2018 Desire Lines Cole Ranch Riesling

The 2018 Cole Ranch Riesling was whole-cluster pressed to tank, where the juice was cold settled for 48 hours before being racked to neutral wood barrels for fermentation. For whatever reason, Cole Ranch has always been a slow fermenter, and 2018 proved to be no different – I got only two of the four barrels sulfured before Christmas, while the other two barrels didn’t finish primary fermentation until late January.  The 2018 is beautifully fragrant, with a dizzying array of aromas: white flowers, lime zest, peach, mango, and fresh ginger. And, like the German Grosses Gewächs Rieslings that we love so much, the wine is a study in tension and richness, with a few grams of residual sugar retained to balance the abundant acidity.

"The 2018 Riesling Cole Ranch is a wine of real distinction and class. Varietally expressive and beautifully layered, the 2018 dazzles from start to finish. Orange confit, wild flowers, ginger, sage, honey and tropical accents all run through this nuanced, inviting Riesling. Bright saline notes play off the wine's more overt leanings so well. I have a feeling the 2017 has room to grow today. The 2018 is simply impeccable, not to mention incredibly delicious." -94 points, Antonio Galloni (Vinous) 

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