Description
Been tough to keep a Gewürztraminer source long-term these days. Out with the old, in with the new I guess. 2022 is our first vintage to work with Rick’s. It’s close to and similar to Rancho Llegado. Typical for the area, wind, fog, and cool temperatures predominate year round. Like Rancho Llegado, Rick’s is carefully farmed by Steve McIntyre to assure the specific ripeness, a balance of sugar, and the acidity, that we are looking for. A long growing season and temperatures that rarely rise above 80 ̊F create an ideal spot for such a wonderfully aromatic wine.
Having tried it both ways, we have been mechanically harvesting Gewürztraminer for many years now. The added skin contact time while in transport to the winery boosts the aromatics and savoriness of the wine. Once at the winery, grapes are pressed then cold settled for 72 hours before the fermentation is allowed to begin. Fermentation this vintage lasted 50 days at 52 ̊F
The 2022 is just a touch sweet with 5.7g/L residual sugar and a little bit of malic acid left too. Weather was a bit extreme in 2022, but the Gewurz came in at the end of August before the heat wave or the rains. We are really happy with Rick’s! Acid is present, but the wine is not overly lean or austere, the fruit is savory and the aromatics are a little more pronounced than the last few vintages. The end result is still a relatively subtle, but distinctly aromatic wine that is true to the variety.
