WINEMAKER'S NOTES:
Golden straw in color with aromas of pear, honeysuckle, pineapple, candied lime, tangerine, and wet stone. A bright and lively entry with a medium body layered with minerality and fresh natural acidity. The finish is long and satisfying.
Blend: 84% Grenache Blanc, 14% Picpoul, 2% Roussanne
TASTING NOTES:
The Ridge team started making 2023 Grenache Blanc with the 2018 vintage, winemaker John Olney impressed by the fruit he could find in Paso Robles. Able to source from three sites, Fossil Creek, Adelaida, and Halter Ranch, all on the appellation's west side, it includes 14% Picpoul Blanc and 2% Roussanne. Before this, the only white wine Ridge ever made was Chardonnay from Monte Bello Estate. Fermented in barrel, both American and French, and aged partly in concrete and clay amphorae, it is elegant yet concentrated, with lasting acidity.
- Jeb Dunnuck, 94 pts.
Brilliant acidity backs up subtle, savory and fresh citrus flavors in this full-bodied and well-balanced Rhone-style white. Aromas like a hay field, lanolin and dry earth meet tangy apricot, lime zest, mineral and almond flavors on a broad but lively texture. Includes 14% picpoul and 2% roussanne grapes.
- James Suckling, 93 pts.
Bright citrusy energy kicks off the nose on this bottling, which includes 14% Picpoul and 2% Roussanne, and then features hints of pear and apple flesh. The palate is tense in texture while bold in those pome fruit flavors.
- Wine Enthusiast, 91 pts.
Blended with 14% Picpoul and 2% Roussanne, the 2023 Grenache Blanc leads with aromas of tangerine, kumquat, lime cordial and orange rinds that radiate from the glass, supported by an exotic tinge of marzipan. The palate is spry, pure and precise, concluding with a tangy, succulent finish that lingers with pleasant stoniness.
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 pts.
The 2023 Grenache Blanc Paso Robles is bright and fresh, especially for a rich variety grown in a hot climate. Dollops of Picpoul and Roussanne round out the blend. Marzipan, white peach and mint introduce a wine with an enticing texture. Lithe and energetic, it fills out the mid-palate with joyful fruit.
- Vinous, 90 pts.
