Gold Medal - 2016 San Francisco International Wine Competition

As it has been with previous vintages of Ineseño (the name refers to people native to Santa Ynez), this blend of 64% roussanne and 36% viognier offers a lovely floral lift on the nose and the palate brings great depth of fruit, concentration and richness.  There are hints of doughnut peach, honeydew melon, and lemon curd, alongside jasmine, white rose, and anise.  On the palate, the wine sits very high toned with great texture and minerality, maintaining beautiful freshness.  A stunner out of the gates, enjoy it young, but the wine shines with hidden rewards for those who are prepared to cellar and wait.  Using a mix of stainless steel, neutral French oak, and 20% new French oak barrels for roussanne, and large format barrels (400L) to preserve the freshness of viognier, the wine ages for 10 months before blending to tank and then bottled.

* The three whimsical figures on the Ineseño label are the Gleason women - Niki flanked by her daughters, Callie and Mara, as they stroll through the vineyard.  

Technical Information:

Soil Types: Linne Clay Loam - this whitish gray soil contains limestone pieces beginning 18”-24” below the surface.  The presence of limestone captures and preserves the freshness in this wine, and being a heavier soil lends itself to a rounder mouthfeel.
Mocho Loam - this sandy, alluvial soil is fine-grained, fertile and deposited by water flowing from the Santa Ynez River.  Due to their sandy nature, there is little water retention in these soils which creates higher aromatics and density in the fruit. 

Harvest Dates: August 3rd - September 4th

pH: 3.80

Bottled: July 22nd, 2014

Cases Produced: 325