2013 Bonny Doon ALBARIÑO

Until 1989 Albariño was one of the rarest wine varieties in the world, rarely glimpsed outside the Iberian Peninsula. Since that time, this light yet vibrant white grape has become a darling of wine geeks worldwide with its preternatural ability to pair with all types of seafood, cheese and salty dishes.

Tasting Notes Very pale chartreuse color.  In the nose, citrus (mostly lime and tangerine) peel and leaf with a vague hint of peach and pineapple.  Impressively bracing natural acidity (no acidification was doon), and a slightly richer and more savory mouthfeel than we achieved in the ’12 (perhaps because we were able to do a little more bâtonage.) The wine has come together nicely since bottling, but is still pretty tightly wound, and certainly will keep its freshness for several years to come.  Still absolutely the perfect wine to serve with cracked crab.

Vineyard | Production Notes The Kristy Vineyard in the Salinas Valley, from which derives the dominant component of this blend, is a bit of a wind tunnel, and as such, remains almost preternaturally cool in temperature during the growing season. (It is aided and abetted by the Jespersen Vineyard of Edna Valley, perhaps even cooler.)

Vital Statistics Varietal Blend: 100% albariño Vineyards: 73% Kristy Vineyard, 27% Jespersen Ranch Appellation: Central Coast Alcohol by Volume: 13.2% TA: 7.8 g/L pH: 3.36 Production: 1,592 cases