We are talking about Tatomer Vandenberg Riesling, a complete surprise wine. Who would have expected that California would be the homeland of this truly impressive white wine, which is also a Riesling? It is fine, intensely aromatic, and with crisp acidity. It has already received 93 points from Wine Enthusiast, and we have found yet another reason to cross the Atlantic, even if only mentally!
Tatomer spent a few harvests in Wachau, Austria, and even next to the great Weingut Knoll school. So, fatefully, he received his baptism of fire to create amazing Riesling wines. His return to California marked a new era in the Riesling-California relationship and his choice to make dry Riesling was crowned with absolute success. The vineyards are located in the coastal areas of Santa Barbara, where the cool sea breeze is a balm for maintaining a consistently low temperature throughout the day.
For the Vandenberg Riesling, grapes from old vines were used, but the majority are from the exemplary Riesling vineyard, Kick-on Ranch. There the natural runoff of water from the Mayacama Mountains, and the physical drainage leads to a minimal production of very good concentration and characteristic minerality. For this wine, Tatomer used a large percentage of grapes that had undergone noble rot to end up with a very delicate Riesling, with an explosion of fruit and very crisp acidity that will outboast any shellfish appetizer that comes it's way.
The Tatomer Riesling Vandenberg is the epitome of California Riesling and you should try it!
