Joyce Vineyards Albariño Mission Ranch Arroyo Seco 2021

Joyce Vineyards Albariño Mission Ranch Arroyo Seco 2021

PLACE
The fruit was harvested from the Mission Ranch Vineyard, adjacent to our estate winery in the Arroyo Seco AVA. This AVA is recognized as having the longest growing season in California. Strong daily winds that bring cool fog from the Monterey Bay force the grapes to spend more time on the vine building flavor and complexity. Extremely rocky well-drained alluvial soils are the base for creating wines processing freshness & minerality.

Originally planted by the Mirassou family in 1961, over two decades before the region received its AVA status, Mission Ranch was one of the first commercial vineyards planted in Monterey County. The combination of sand, granite, and shale loam soils with the ever present marine influence provide the perfect conditions for growing Albariño.

WINEMAKING
-Hand-harvested and foot-treaded to break the berries and allow the juice to come in contact with the skins for 10 hours.
-Fermented at cool temperatures for 28 days and finished bone dry.
-Aged on lees for 4 months. (Lees suspended twice during the aging process)
-Gently crossflow filtered prior to bottling.
-Bottled with 15ppm free SO2

PRODUCTION
900 cases

Reviews

Wine Enthusiast – “Much of this year’s bottling comes from Russell Joyce’s recently acquired vineyard, and it bodes well for the future. Aromas of honeysuckle, wet cement and lime blossom pop on the nose, while a very grippy tension carries flavors of broad lime, rainy sidewalk and soda-water flavors. It’s stony and acidic.” (94 Pts – Editors’ Choice)