Robert Parker awarded Calzada
Ridge 90 points. He wrote in The Wine Advocate
… “Calzada Ridge is a serious wine
with intense oily, peach, honeysuckle and citrus
notes along with crushed rock-like characteristics
in a medium-bodied, well-delineated, crisp, substantial
style.” According to Parker’s rating
system, 90 points represents “an outstanding
wine of exceptional complexity. In short, these
are terrific wines.”
“…a dynamite example of Viognier…
it’s a luscious, sexy wine quite capable
of holding its own against wines costing twice
the price. It’s Viognier all the way showing
nuances of pear and mineral… it’s
also reminiscent of the best Sauvignon Blancs
leaning toward the grassy, grapefruit spectrum.
The balance is superb … it will age beautifully.”
- Michael O’Shea
Santa Barbara News Press – Wine & Food
Notes
“…tasted Calzada Ridge Viognier the
day after it was bottled …I’ve been
a fan of this wine since its first release …
even with only one day in the bottle it is still
my favorite.”
- Judy Willis
Business of WINE
“Calzada Ridge’s vineyard techniques
are an enviable template for those who wish to
plant a small vineyard … this is a vineyard
in balance…there is less vine variability
here than any vineyard I’ve seen …
it is absolutely gorgeous.”
- Wine Maker magazine from a feature article titled
“Living the Dream – A Viognier of
Titanic Proportions”
“wonderfully complex with a beautiful dusky
gold robe, at once rich and delicate, this is
a wine to sip, not to quaff.”
- Food & Home Magazine
“this wine is worth the effort to pick up.
This wine fans out its flavors a bit deeper than
most viogniers.”
- Dennis Schaefer
“In Santa Barbara County, we are experiencing
a trend of small winegrowers that are the complete
antithesis of mass production. These tiny vineyards
are lovingly cared for and meticulously farmed
and the resulting product is truly handcrafted.
Here are some notes on small winegrowers who produce
big results:
Calzada Ridge Viognier: Peach
skin, with honey and an undercurrent of minerality
on the nose, makes this viognier immediately intriguing.
Strongly flavored, this one is not from the school
of wimpy white wines. Peach, apricot and honeysuckle
all figure in the upfront flavor mix but it also
has a fascinating brewed- and-steeped tea character
as well as a waxy semillon-type component on the
finish. A scintillating richness, like a deep
vein of gold, runs throughout the entire length
of this viognier, which ends on a crisp, acidic
note. Less of an aperitif wine and more of a delectable
food partner: It would be a perfect match for
seared halibut crusted with pecans and mango salsa
on the side, or pristinely fresh sushi. "
-Santa Barbara County Wine Guide
“…I have found your wine to be a strong
testament to Viognier’s potential in California
– all of the aromatics you expect from Viognier,
but with a mineral backbone and bracing acidity
found only in top-flight offerings. As the French
say, your wine lets “la terre parle”
- the earth speak.”
- a satisfied customer testimonial
“ …drank the first bottle last night.
It was outstanding. Even our friends who are French
white wine snobs agreed it was worthy of comment.”
- another xenophile’s unsolicited response
“a golden summer morning in a bottle…this
is no wimpy Viognier, but one with the structure
to hold up to the spiciest sushi…”
- Montecito Journal
