Another project from our friend Alex Remy, winemaker at Omen Wines, Oro Bello is a producer of squeaky-clean, bright and fresh wines from fruit sourced throughout northern California, all from top-quality vineyards. Alex believes in letting the fruit express itself in these wines, and uses no additives at all during the winemaking, unlike many other commercial producers on our west coast.
The Wines
Blanc de Blancs: a sparkling blend of 78% Chenin Blanc, 15% Sauvignon Blanc (for aromatics and to lift the acidity) and 7% Muscat of Alexandria (for deeper fruit aromatics and mid-palate flavor. Fresh, clean and finished dry. Single-serving cans (187ml so they can be sold retail as a 4pk, unlike other 250ml cans), and designed for zero waste at the bar, and portability where you can’t bring glass!
Rose of Pinot Noir: The 2020 of this little gem is produced from fruit grown in the Petaluma Gap AVA, a subregion of the Sonoma Coast AVA given its own AVA status effective 2018. The Gap funnels cool Pacific breezes from the coast inland and allows longer ripening times while the cool evenings perserve acidity. A lean, dry wine style with aromas ranging from tangerine, grapefruit, strawberry and roses. This is a very delicate wine with a light pink color.
Chardonnay: a blend of Lodi and Sonoma Coast fruit. The Lodi fruit is put through malolactic fermentation to add richness and phenolic complexity, while the Sonoma Coast (Petaluma Gap, actually) fruit doesn’t see malo, so brings zesty acidity, primary fruit flavors, and a bit more structure. Held under 14% ABV and fermented out to totally dry, aged 9 months in 20% new, 80% neutral French oak, then bottled with minimal use of sulfites. Fresh and clean style, but with depth and substance on the palate.
Roussanne, Dry Stack Vineyard: This luscious white is 100% Roussanne from the Dry Stack Vineyard in Sonoma County’s Bennett Valley AVA, a small “pocket valley” surrounded to the south, east and west by the Sonoma Mountains. Cool Pacific fogs creep in through Crane Canyon, which separates Sonoma Mountain from Taylor Mountain, moderating the climate and helping preserve acidity in the very ripe fruit. Created in 2003 at the petition of Matanzas Creek Winery, the AVA is a small one with only 8140 acres of viticultural area, with a mere 650 acres planted to grapes.
Most of the planted area sits on benchland between 400 and 1100 ft, right within range of the fog belt. The climate is cooler than nearby Carneros and so hangtimes are longer, providing a high degree of phenolic ripeness while preserving acidity.
Dry Stack is partway up the ridge that forms the western boundary of the AVA. Soils are a combination of marine clays and lighter textured volcanic material. It is quite rocky, and the name Dry Stack is taken from the many dry stack stone walls on the property, built from the rocks that littered the site prior to it being cleared and planted.
The wine shows a bright gold color associated with distinctive aromas of honey and apricot. The backbone of the wine shows notes of floral and Lemon meringue. The mouthfeel is full-bodied, yet still delicate. Extremely limited, only 100 cases produced.
