Lemon drop, dried straw, white grapefruit flesh. Underripe yellow pear, fresh thyme, peach pit. White blossom and sage, sandy soil and dusty bookshelf. Gala apple & melon rind dunked in yogurt and sprinkled with subtle herbs. Showing some age and a hint of oxidation but very much awake and vital. Surprising power and ripeness behind a compelling canvas of complexity. This 2010 Cork Jumper Blanc De Blancs by Riverbench Vineyard and Winery is delicious vintage sparkling wine from one of Santa Barbara's best.

Sparkling wine production in California is nothing new, but recently we've seen a boom in producers willing to invest the necessary time and energy into making one of the world's most complicated and labor intensive styles of wine. Riverbench, however, has already got this bubbly thing figured out. This bottling is crafted from 100% Chardonnay from the Riverbench Estate in Santa Maria and is wonderfully intriguing and unique. It speaks of California in its size and gusto yet retains a distinct freshness even at 8 years of age. Extended time in bottle has mellowed it's acidity and allowed for herbal and earthy secondary characteristics to develop. Spirited and full of life, this wine shows how Riverbench has managed to propel themselves to the top of the pack of domestic sparkling wine producers. What a delightful experience it was to get to taste this library release and see how time has treated it.