We received some really exciting wine reviews last week from Antonio Galloni on Vinous and wanted to share the good news with you all.
Antonio's summary of Desire Lines says: “This is another set of exceptional wines from Desire Lines and proprietors Emily and Cody Rasmussen. The 2021 Winds of Change Syrah and Evangelho Vineyard Red Wine are especially of note, although the various Riesling bottlings aren’t too far behind. As always, the wines are done in a transparent style aimed at capturing the essence of site, vintage and variety. Readers who have not checked out these wines yet absolutely should do so.”
We’re so grateful to Antonio for tasting the wines and sharing his notes. We especially love that he quickly hits on our core winemaking philosophy: faithfully rendering terroir-driven wines that speak clearly (and deliciously!) of a place and a time, or in Antonio’s words, making and sharing wines that are “the essence of site, vintage and variety.” We’re flattered and gratified to be seen!
In honor of these latest reviews, we’ve put together a small allocation with six wines available on a first-come, first-served basis. Because we’re pulling from what was the insurance stash in the event of a shipping snafu from the previous releases, we’re down to the last few cases on a couple of these wines (looking at you, Evangelho). With that apology said in case the wines sell out quickly, we’re excited to share the wines again and happy to have a few wines from the last two releases that are still up for grabs.
We plan to ship most orders in the fall after our fall release, though we’ll ship sooner if the weather allows. Please reach out with any questions. Thank you so much for your support!
Emily & Cody
2021 Winds of Change Syrah | 94+ Points
"The 2021 Syrah Winds of Change is fabulous. Silky and perfumed, this mid-weight Syrah is compelling right out of the glass. Scents of lavender, spice, mint and licorice open first, followed by a burst of blue/purplish Syrah fruit. Deceptive in its mid-weight feel, the 2021 is bursting with flavor and freshness. Drink it over the next decade or so." - Antonio Galloni, Spring 2023
2021 Evangelho Vineyard Red Wine | 94 Points
"The 2021 Red Wine Evangelho Vineyard is all class. Bright, effusive and punchy, the 2021 impresses with its poise and overall character. Inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice are front and center. This exuberant Contra Costa Carignane/Mourvèdre hits all the right notes. I would give the 2021 a year or two in the cellar for the tannins to soften a bit." - Antonio Galloni, Spring 2023
2021 Kick Ranch Sauvignon Blanc | 93 Points
"The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Kick Ranch is bright and effusive. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint, tangerine oil, sage and tomato leaf are all finely delineated. Here, too, I am quite struck by the wine's weight and phenolic intensity. This is a serious wine for the dinner table." - Antonio Galloni, Spring 2023
2021 Wiley Vineyard Riesling | 92 Points
"The 2021 Riesling Wiley Vineyard is fresh and beautifully lifted in the glass. Green pear, lime and mint confer freshness throughout. A hint of residual sugar works quite well in giving this sensual Riesling lovely complexity and character." - Antonio Galloni, Spring 2023
2021 Massa Vineyard Riesling | 93 Points
"The No. 10 Old Durney, Riesling from the Massa Vineyard in Carmel Valley, is gorgeous. Lemon confit, marzipan, chamomile, white flowers and a touch of tropical fruit give the 2021 an exotic profile that is both distinctive and appealing. There's a good bit of textural oiliness that adds character. Bright acids perk up the effortless finish." - Antonio Galloni, Spring 2023
2021 Cole Ranch Riesling | 92 Points
"The 2021 Riesling Cole Ranch offers a beguiling mix of varietal notes and also a good bit of textural weight that I don't recall seeing in this wine previously. Dried pear, spice, chamomile, mint and white flowers emerge with some reluctance, as there is so much fruit density. I would give this a year or two in bottle." - Antonio Galloni, Spring 2023
