Pale gold color; grapefruit, lemon-lime, mango, melon, peach, Granny Smith apple, tropical fruit, ginger, mowed grass, minerality on the nose and palate.
Dry; fresh, crisp acidity. Light-medium body. Tart throughout, especially on the finish, but there is an intriguing whisper of sweetness like a ripe melon lurking in the background. Interesting juxtaposition of tartness and ripe fruitiness throughout. Grapes from sustainably-grown vineyards. Almost certainly fermented and finished in stainless steel as there are no oak notes. 13.5% ABV
The winery is in Paso Robles. The fruit for this effort came from the Central Coast AVA, a massive AVA along the Central California Pacific coastline, ranging from San Francisco Bay, through Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties. It includes 40 smaller AVAs, including Paso Robles, Santa Cruz Mountains, and Santa Barbara.
Rabble is an evolving enterprise. Originally it was known as Rob Murray Vineyards, then Force of Nature. Rabble emphasizes environmental activism. Their top four wines push elements of nature—earth, fire, water, wind—and are sold as a bundle. For each bundle sold, Rabble plants five trees. The website notes: “Our wines are rooted in nature. It’s in the way we make our wines and grow our vines all connected to the soil to establish the essence of a vibrant and honest wine. It’s why we partner with local growers and farmers who are dedicated to sustainable farming practices to produce full purity in the fruit.”
Rabble places significant attention to nature. The website notes: “We understand the importance of protecting our environment and creating vibrant, honest wines. Our wines are rooted in Mother Nature and are created by the best damn grape growers who are unapologetic about their process and use their intuition to create products they can stand behind and never compromise. Mother nature is what leads us to make our decisions. It’s why we’re not afraid to take risks because she won’t steer us wrong. Ultimately, we must listen to her. We must obey her. And we must protect her.”
Rabble Sauvignon Blanc, Central Coast 2022 is bright, nuanced, and balanced with impressive interplay of tartness and hint of sweetness with plenty of fruitiness. This is a versatile effort that can be refreshing served chilled and sipped solo outdoors on a warm day, also paired with the usual food suspects for sauv blanc. Rounder and less assertive than a New Zealand effort, this is the kinder, gentler face of sauv blanc. Pair with shellfish; oysters; ceviche; chicken; Thai cuisine; vegetarian fare. Cheese—goat’s milk cheese is classic pairing; cheddar, gouda, havarti, monterey jack, colby jack, muenster, parmesan, swiss, brick. $18-21