Winemaker Jeremy Weintraub of Site Wine Co.

Site Wine Co. is the personal side-project of winemaker Jeremy Weintraub. His full-time gig is winemaker for Adelaida Cellars in Paso Robles, one of the better wineries in that region. Previously, Jeremy was the winemaker at Seavey Vineyard, an excellent, terroir-driven producer in Napa Valley’s Howell Mountain AVA. He as also worked in winemaking and/or viticulture in Santa Maria, Central Otago, Martinborough, Tuscany, and on Long Island.

Given the name, Site Wine Co., it won’t surprise you that the brand’s focus is giving voice to unique, expressive vineyards. Since the fruit is purchased, rather than estate, Site Wine has the flexibility to pull from a variety premier vineyards.

The winemaking approach is flexible and intended to let site and fruit dictate style. Texture plays a key role in the wines, new oak and additives do not.

My overall impression of these wines is that they are loaded with personality and flavor, yet elegant and totally unforced.  Tasting them is simultaneously relaxing and mind-expanding. They sing. I defy you to taste them but not buy any.

2013 Site Viognier Larner Vineyard Ballard Canyon 95pts 14.2% 750ml $40
Drop-dead gorgeous with flavors and aromas of beeswax, white flowers and tangerine pith. Medium+ body with soft, fine-grained texture so lovely I didn’t want to swallow.

2013 Site Roussanne Stolpman Vineyard Ballard Canyon 95pts 13.7% 750ml $40
Very, very fine and unctuous on the long, full-bodied palate. Elegantly dried-apricotted. Crazy good.

2013 Site Red Wine Larner Vineyard Ballard Canyon 96pts 14.6% 750ml $50
Bacon fat, smoke & rich but restrained dark fruit. Medium+ body with soft, fine-grained texture. Super long. Syrah 75%, Grenache 20%, Viognier 5%

2013 Site Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley 94pts 14.6%? 750ml $50
Full-bodied but fresh with fine-grained texture and long, concentrated flavors of black olive, dark plum and Chinese five-spice.

Copyright Fred Swan 2016. All rights Reserved.