Stirm Kick-On Vineyard Riesling 2019
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Wilfred
Wong -
Connoisseurs'
Guide
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The 2019 growing season was relatively mild for Central California standards, with average winter rainfall returning to the Los Alamos Valley. Late spring rains helped the vines get a huge boost right before flowering and fruit set. Early summer was very warm which resulted in great fruit set, followed by a very mild later summer, with a long ripening season.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Stirm Kick-on Vineyard Riesling is an excellent New World example of this grape variety. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with aromas and flavors of green apple, mineral notes, and chalk. Enjoy it with a fresh shellfish platter. (Tasted: June 22, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
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Connoisseurs' Guide
The windy, very cool, Kick-On Vineyard is among the more prized Riesling sites in Santa Barbara County and is the source of some of the better local Rieslings to be found. Mr. Stirm’s version is a dry, medium-bodied look at the variety that possesses a good measure of fundamental Riesling fruit but shows nary a trace of sweetness while teasing with hints of blossoms and touches of savory spice. It is rounded and ever so slightly viscous in feel but stops well short of being overly soft, and, like its mate just above, it is a richer Riesling best tagged for meal-time service rather than one to grab for light-hearted quaffing.
Other Vintages
2018-
Wine &
Spirits
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.