This wine is broad and rich without being too weighty, exactly the texture that I like my Rhone whites to have- this way they can be experiential and still be balanced and full of nuance. On the nose there is honey, apricot, peaches and cream, saffron, and lemon curd. The palate is lime and lemon with more honey and a touch of chamomile. The mouthfeel is broad like brûlée, with a long sultry finish.
The age of this wine is really special. Roussanne sings after 5 or 6 years so this is just hitting its prime.
This wine was fermented naturally and aged in neutral French oak for 16 months.
2016 Press Gang Roussanne
$32.00
The La Presa vineyard is in Los Olivos in the Santa Ynez Valley on a slope overlooking the Santa Ynez River. Originally the land used for seasonal cattle grazing between the mainland and Channel Islands. The first grapes were planted in 1974. Because it is situated so close to the Santa Ynez River, the fog lingers longer than most sites in the valley. These vines were planted among stone, gravel, clay and river rocks.
Roussanne is a rich, full bodied Rhone white that is often blended with Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Vioginer. As a stand alone, it usually carries notes of honey and apricot and is highly floral. A slow ripener, it carries a thick mid palate that makes it a true delicacy. It is considered an age worthy wine, but also known to have a “dumb period” when it kind of shuts down and goes flat, so people suggest drinking it very early or laying it down for a while. The 2016 La Presa is just hitting its sweet spot.