I’m no rat, but I am more that pleased to tell you that I tasted this PN, and a delicious 2017 Chenin Blanc, at his warehouse/tasting room in Buellton in mid-August.
We purchased some of each and enjoyed them with friends for a long weekend of wine tasting and reminiscing in the Santa Ynez valley. Notes on CT.
Here is another reason you should start a relationship with Ryan and his staff. Roark came my Radar screen because I was planning a Cabernet Franc tasting and looking for an example of what was happening in the Santa Barbara area. A knowledgeable young winemaker identified Ryan as on the cutting edge of CF production in the area. I called and learned that he was not only out of town with one of his growers but sold out of CF. His staff reached him and game him my cell # . Ryan called me and told me to stop at his shop as his assistant would make his personal 2016 bottles available .
I am looking forward to trying more of Ryan’s wines in the future.
“The colony’s governor, John White, left with a crew for England in 1587 to collect much-needed supplies. Due to the war with Spain and inclement weather over the Atlantic at various points, his return was delayed until 1580.”
Mystery solved. He returned seven years before he left, and the colony hadn’t been established yet.
It is so Frustrating there are no rat reports. This boutique winery piques my interest but very difficult to go in on a case with zero notes! I’m all about supporting boutique wineries. Feel free to ship me some wine for rattage WD. I always deliver.
@losthighwayz
Agreed. There’s not really even a tasting/flavor profile posted here or on their website (at least I haven’t found one). Rats would be very helpful, but even winemaker notes would help.
@karenhynes@losthighwayz Hey all! We don’t usually create tasting notes but here’s a little of what I get from our 2016 Pinot Noir -This begins with classic Sta. Rita Hills aromatics of white pepper and earth. Medium bodied with prominent acid and a lingering finish. Bright, vibrant dark red fruit with a touch of violet. A wine you could drink now and easily pairable with food due to the low alcohol and acidity, or hold onto for a little while and watch it age into something more delicate. Hope this helps!
If I wasn’t on a wine buying break, this would be something I’d buy just to try. It’s nice to see a wine in a more classic style, especially in a time when so many wines are made in a mind boggling overripe, low acid style. (Just when I think I’m getting used to it, someone comes along with a wine they picked at 30 brix, and I just can’t wrap my brain around that.)
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Roark Wine Co. Pinot Noir - $60 = 21.42%
Man, I’m getting close to pulling the trigger. Ryan, are there any .CA pinot you can compare your style? I am glad you use all neutral oak. Hate oak in my wines.
@losthighwayz 16 months in barrel and yes! Ernst does a great job, I would actually compare our Pinot as being pretty darn similar to Storm or any other producer that leans towards a lighter style.
If there is a variety that Santa Barbara County is famous for it is Pinot Noir. While the same story can be told about how this wine was made from different sites and different fermentations, what makes this wine unique is that it is 100% farmed by Roark Wine Co. The best barrels from each of our leased vineyards will find themselves in our vineyard level bottlings and the balance ends up in our regional wines.
Vintage and Winemaking Notes
During the 2016 growing season, we were farming two different Pinot vineyards; Burning Creek Ranch off of Santa Rosa Road in southern Sta. Rita Hills and a yet to be named plot overlooking La Purisima Mission east of Lompoc. Burning Creek Ranch is 70% clay and our most challenging site. The other ranch is almost pure beach sand and one of the easiest sites for controlling weeds. Each site makes very expressive wines but together they showcase something equally special.
Roark Wine Co. was founded in 2009 by Ryan Roark. RWC focuses on making small batch wines that showcase variety, vintage, and place. To best represent each harvest, we make our wine as unadulterated as possible: in neutral vessels, with all native fermentation, and no additions apart from a minimal amount of sulfur.
What began as a 100 case Chenin Blanc project has evolved into a small grape growing and winemaking operation. Ryan and his small team farm a handful of vineyards throughout Santa Barbara County while also sourcing grapes from trusted growers to produce about 1,500 cases of wine per year.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Any rats? This is right up my alley! loring wine company, alma Rosa, bucanero, and ken Brown tastings rooms within walking distance! My point is I’ve tasted and enjoyed wines from these tasting rooms. Need a nudge
Interested, but no IL, so I’ll ask. Is the shipping window accurate? If it’s just a few days later I may have an alternative shipping address and may tip my decision.
In for 3…to add to my Harvest Moon and Kent Rasmussen Esoterica Pinot Noirs still in my basement…I don’t need wine, but this intrigues me with the low ABV.
/giphy priceless-weedy-barnacle
I’m no rat, but I am more that pleased to tell you that I tasted this PN, and a delicious 2017 Chenin Blanc, at his warehouse/tasting room in Buellton in mid-August.
We purchased some of each and enjoyed them with friends for a long weekend of wine tasting and reminiscing in the Santa Ynez valley. Notes on CT.
Here is another reason you should start a relationship with Ryan and his staff. Roark came my Radar screen because I was planning a Cabernet Franc tasting and looking for an example of what was happening in the Santa Barbara area. A knowledgeable young winemaker identified Ryan as on the cutting edge of CF production in the area. I called and learned that he was not only out of town with one of his growers but sold out of CF. His staff reached him and game him my cell # . Ryan called me and told me to stop at his shop as his assistant would make his personal 2016 bottles available .
I am looking forward to trying more of Ryan’s wines in the future.
“The colony’s governor, John White, left with a crew for England in 1587 to collect much-needed supplies. Due to the war with Spain and inclement weather over the Atlantic at various points, his return was delayed until 1580.”
Mystery solved. He returned seven years before he left, and the colony hadn’t been established yet.
@rpstrong brilliant historical explanation
I’m a fan of Santa Barbara Pinot and I like the profile on this. It’s a bit of a flyer, but SWMBO loves lower alcohol Pinot, so I bought a box…
Totally unrelated to what’s in the bottle, what’s the story behind the label image?
OK, tell us about the contents as well.
Low AbV is generally interesting.
Any other labs available?
@rjquillin
Is that an old basket press?
@karenhynes @rjquillin or if you squint just right, a 60s era satellite. Syncom or Intelsat I style.
@karenhynes @radiolysis
is exactly where I was going with the question, lots of PV cells, but didn’t want to skew opinions. I guess that Nervi already had me in auto-squint.
@rjquillin It is a basket press! We have two basket presses at our winery that we use. Our larger metal one can hold up to about 1.5 tons!
Wooden Basket Press
@rjquillin
pH levels - 3.65
Acidity - 6.5 g/L
Free SO2 - 20 mg/L
No IL = Sad Karen.
It is so Frustrating there are no rat reports. This boutique winery piques my interest but very difficult to go in on a case with zero notes! I’m all about supporting boutique wineries. Feel free to ship me some wine for rattage WD. I always deliver.
@losthighwayz
Agreed. There’s not really even a tasting/flavor profile posted here or on their website (at least I haven’t found one). Rats would be very helpful, but even winemaker notes would help.
@karenhynes @losthighwayz Hey all! We don’t usually create tasting notes but here’s a little of what I get from our 2016 Pinot Noir -This begins with classic Sta. Rita Hills aromatics of white pepper and earth. Medium bodied with prominent acid and a lingering finish. Bright, vibrant dark red fruit with a touch of violet. A wine you could drink now and easily pairable with food due to the low alcohol and acidity, or hold onto for a little while and watch it age into something more delicate. Hope this helps!
If I wasn’t on a wine buying break, this would be something I’d buy just to try. It’s nice to see a wine in a more classic style, especially in a time when so many wines are made in a mind boggling overripe, low acid style. (Just when I think I’m getting used to it, someone comes along with a wine they picked at 30 brix, and I just can’t wrap my brain around that.)
Looks like the rats never came out of hiding. Hey rats, if you do taste the wine can you please post notes for future reference? Pretty please?
Roark Wine Co. Pinot Noir
3 bottles for $69.99 $23.33/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $219.99 $18.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2016 Roark Wine Co. Pinot Noir
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Roark Wine Co. Pinot Noir - $60 = 21.42%
Is this barriqued or not? That will make the whole difference for me. I’m sick of woody wines from California…
@salpo this wine was aged in all neutral oak!
Man, I’m getting close to pulling the trigger. Ryan, are there any .CA pinot you can compare your style? I am glad you use all neutral oak. Hate oak in my wines.
How long did wine spend in barrels? How many cases were produced? Finally, are you familiar with Ernst Storm and his wines? Truly enjoy his style
@losthighwayz 16 months in barrel and yes! Ernst does a great job, I would actually compare our Pinot as being pretty darn similar to Storm or any other producer that leans towards a lighter style.
Tasting Notes
If there is a variety that Santa Barbara County is famous for it is Pinot Noir. While the same story can be told about how this wine was made from different sites and different fermentations, what makes this wine unique is that it is 100% farmed by Roark Wine Co. The best barrels from each of our leased vineyards will find themselves in our vineyard level bottlings and the balance ends up in our regional wines.
Vintage and Winemaking Notes
During the 2016 growing season, we were farming two different Pinot vineyards; Burning Creek Ranch off of Santa Rosa Road in southern Sta. Rita Hills and a yet to be named plot overlooking La Purisima Mission east of Lompoc. Burning Creek Ranch is 70% clay and our most challenging site. The other ranch is almost pure beach sand and one of the easiest sites for controlling weeds. Each site makes very expressive wines but together they showcase something equally special.
Specifications
Price Comparison
$554/case (including shipping) at Roark Wine Company
About The Winery
Roark Wine Co. was founded in 2009 by Ryan Roark. RWC focuses on making small batch wines that showcase variety, vintage, and place. To best represent each harvest, we make our wine as unadulterated as possible: in neutral vessels, with all native fermentation, and no additions apart from a minimal amount of sulfur.
What began as a 100 case Chenin Blanc project has evolved into a small grape growing and winemaking operation. Ryan and his small team farm a handful of vineyards throughout Santa Barbara County while also sourcing grapes from trusted growers to produce about 1,500 cases of wine per year.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, January 7th - Wednesday, January 9th
Any rats? This is right up my alley! loring wine company, alma Rosa, bucanero, and ken Brown tastings rooms within walking distance! My point is I’ve tasted and enjoyed wines from these tasting rooms. Need a nudge
@losthighwayz Two lab rat bottles were sent out for this offer! Hopefully they can chime in before the end of the offer. They have been reminded.
@arianaWCC
Hopefully, non-responsive rodents will be trapped and appropriately dealt with.
In fairness, an “are you available” query with affirmative response prior to dispatch could be most helpful.
Interested, but no IL, so I’ll ask. Is the shipping window accurate? If it’s just a few days later I may have an alternative shipping address and may tip my decision.
In for 3…to add to my Harvest Moon and Kent Rasmussen Esoterica Pinot Noirs still in my basement…I don’t need wine, but this intrigues me with the low ABV.
/giphy priceless-weedy-barnacle