Murphys Calif
2020 Lavender Ridge Roussanne – One of the Best Tasted!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Lavender Ridge Vineyard tasting room is in the town of Murphys in the lower Sierra Nevada foothills. Lavender Ridge specializes in Rhone varietal wines. They include Cotes du Calaveras Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Rolle, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Rose, Grenache, Cotes du Calaveras, Mourvedre, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, Vin Doux and Anniversaire Blanc. They also feature an artisan cheese selection that is unique and has something for just about everyone.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Roussanne on the eyes is a light radiant and clear golden straw color with medium heavy viscosity. On the nose floral aromatics, hints of pear and apricots waft into the senses. On the palate, you are treated to a silky-smooth mouthful texture. The finish provides a soft nutty almond, compounded with a hint of honey and distinct minerality. This Roussanne is powerful with floral aromatics, with hints of peaches, pears and provided a rich and silky-smooth mouthful texture. The fullness of body, almost a creamy sense, is the key contributor making this a unique wine! Roussanne brings more rounded acidity, elegance and aromatic complexities to the wine. Lavender Ridge Roussanne has consistently won awards at various wine competitions. Rich Gilpin, owner & winemaker, produces Roussanne as a standard varietal and a nice change up from Chardonnay! Today’s vintage is 2025 and it goes for $30/bottle. This wine has made my Annual Best Wines Tasted list for 7 years in a row. It will also make the list for 2026 for wines $50 and less!
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired with sauteed scallops and a creative Mango Salsa this evening. The Mango Salsa included chopped mangoes, seeded and chopped bell pepper, jalapeno seeded and chopped, red onion chopped, fresh cilantro chopped, lime juice, kosher salt and chili powder. Accompanied by long and short grain brown rice and steamed broccoli. The wine provided both refreshment and a tremendous mouth feel to counterbalance any spiciness from salsa.
While several other varieties may have also worked, the mouth-filling and flavorful Roussanne was an exquisite treat this evening.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly