Éleveé Ridgecrest Vineyard Riesling Ribbon Ridge 2020

At the end of a long day making and tasting Cabernet Sauvignon, we Napa folk frequently turn to different varietals and styles to refresh our palates.  We joke that we stock the shop with White Burgundy and Champagne solely for our winemaker neighbors and friends.  But, often, if we’re not reaching for those wines, we’re popping a bottle of Riesling.  And after tasting the Élevée Ridgecrest Riesling, ACME has a new go-to for those mid-week white wine cravings.

Élevée is the pride and joy of proprietors Tom & France Fitzpatrick, who built the business from the ground up in 2008.  After purchasing 4 acres of vines in Dundee Hills, a sub-AVA of Willamette Valley, the Fitzpatricks revamped the vineyard by moving all farming in-house (quite literally themselves) and sold the fruit to other wineries.  Their frugality and hard work paid off in 2012 when they launched Éleveé with a 1,000 case production.  Before venturing to Oregon, Tom & France spent time in Napa Valley, New Zealand, and Burgundy, honing their winemaking skills and falling deeper in love with the concept of terroir.  Tom has a self-proclaimed “obsession” with the idea of terroir that he credits with publishing his Masters’ Thesis from UC Davis.  The thesis focused on the phenolic composition of the resulting wine from particular clones of Pinot Noir as they were grafted to different rootstocks and planted in diverse vineyards in California.

Ridgecrest Vineyard is in the smallest sub-AVA of Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge.  Ribbon Ridge sits atop the Chehalem Mountains with creeks running through and around, almost island-like in its position.  Soils there are primarily marine sediment that hold water well but lack nutrients.  You might think low nutrient levels would be bad for growing things; still, it is prime for grapevines.  It forces the vines to concentrate flavor in the berries versus building large canopies. 

A classic expression of Riesling, the 2020 Élevée Ridgecrest Vineyard is ripe with aromatics of peaches, white florals, and lychee.  The bright acidity lifts the palate through the finish and accentuates the notes of quince and kumquat.  While fantastic as a glass by itself at the end of your day, pair this with a spicy, coconut based curry to "elevate" your dinner experience.