2021 Ribolla, Matthiasson - USA
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Only 4 in stock
Nestled in the heart of the southern end of the Napa Valley, the Matthiasson estate lies in the cooler Oak Knoll zone where the Pacific fog and alluvial fluvial soils temper the heat and grant elegance to the grapes. The Ribolla Gialla vines originate from budwood brought from Italy’s Friuli region, grafted into Merlot root-stock planted in the late 1990s; the 2021 vintage was made from seven rows in the home (Western Oak Knoll) vineyard, farmed organically.
In 2021 Matthiasson fermented the grapes whole-cluster with native yeast, allowed two weeks of skin contact (making it an “orange wine” style), then pressed and matured 18 months on lees in neutral oak barrels. Only 346 cases were produced; alcohol is a modest 12.0 %.
On the nose there are hazelnuts, baking spice, Meyer-lemon curd and Bartlett pear; the palate shows stony minerality, supple tannin structure and fresh, balanced acidity with impressive length given the moderate alcohol.
Food-wise, this is a wonderfully versatile food wine: try it with fatty raw seafood (think oysters or crudo), rich pork dishes, stewed autumnal pome fruit or strong cheeses — the texture and acidity make it a clever bridge between white and red wines.
In short: a small-batch, nose-ticking, texture-loving wine that packs personality and food-friendly charm from a top-flight organic producer.