Made in a frankly off-dry to sweet style, this Riesling’s citrus and honeysuckle flavors are balanced with zesty acidity and a bracing minerality.——S.H.(9/1/2010)—— 84

Virtually all of the 4,000+ cases of Rancho Sisquoc's wines are sold via a mailing list or directly from the winery, so subscribers are not likely to see much of this producer's wines on retailers' shelves. Such is the case with many of Santa Barbara's highest quality wineries. This vast ranch includes over 200 acres, but most of the grapes are sold to wineries such as Robert Mondavi, Foxen, and Gainey. The wines that are bottled under the Rancho Sisquoc label are a distinctive group that includes a Sylvaner made from exceptionally old vines - a rarity in California. The 1991 Franken Riesling (Sylvaner) possesses more character, fruit, and charm than most Sylvaners from Alsace. Its delicately presented fruit has excellent definition and crispness. Consume this tasty wine as an aperitif or with dishes ranging from Asian to Mexican. Lamentably, readers will have to get on Rancho Sisquoc's mailing list in order to latch on to a few of these gems. Tel. (805) 934-4332