2015 Ryme Cellars, Vermentino “Hers” Las Brisas Vineyard, Carneros.
The Ryme Hers Vermentino is bright tangy and lightly saline infused, in other words it’s a fresh and mouth-watering white with racy leaness and subtle concentration. Megan and Ryan Glaab’s Ryme Cellars (a blending of both their first names) is a tiny micro production winery focusing on hand-crafted small lot wines that reflect terroir and varietals, but with a twist and unique style with a homage to the ancient ways and old world, while being at the same time proud young California winemakers that want to express themselves and the native fruit. Between this husband and wife winemaking team they have put time in at some of the best wineries in the state including Pax, Peay and Windgap (where they make their wines) as well as legendary places including Marcassin and Sine Qua Non!, plus a stint at Australia’s Torbreck Their wines include Cabernet Franc, Aglianico, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ribolla Gialla and a pair of “His” and “Hers” Vermentinos, with “His” being a long skin macerated “Orange” style wine and this “Hers” being a whole cluster pressed and clear style white, age in stainless and neutral cask with partial malo, with a delicate pale green/gold hue and vibrant acidity. I love this gripping 2015 Ryme Cellars Hers Vermentino, Las Brisas Vineyard, a cool climate site with deep clay soils on San Pablo Bay, it has an almost Riesling like intensity and a forcefully dry and brisk palate that is slightly dusty and even a touch savory with white peach, lemon/lime, gooseberry and hint of mango fruits, traces of herb, dried citrus rind and spring jasmine along with a vigorous energy/intensity, salty wet stones and loamy/mineral. This wine gains some depth with air and can go with a array of cuisine, but can also be enjoyed as a crisp summer quaffer, it’s a very interesting wine that highlights vintage and place well and should drink nicely for another 2 or 3 years easy.
($25 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
