Monte Rio Cellars Skull White 2020

24% French Colombard, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Chardonnay, 18% Riesling, 18% Clairette. Monte Rio Cellars is a collaboration between longtime friends Patrick Cappiello and Pax Mahle. Following a successful career as a sommelier and restaurant owner in New York City, Patrick set his sights on the West Coast to make wine. As a restaurant buyer and young consumer Patrick was always frustrated by the lack of affordable, honest wines from California. He launched Monte Rio Cellars with the help of his buddy and highly-respected winemaker, Pax, to change this. Patrick and Pax’s philosophy is to make hand-crafted wines in the spirit of old California. With this idea in mind, they work with family-owned, organically farmed vineyards and keep the winemaking simple. Spontaneous fermentation takes place with whole cluster grapes in stainless steel and concrete, and aging takes place in neutral oak barrels. The goal is to make moderate alcohol, higher acid, fresh wines, naturally. This field blend of white grapes has California in its bones. Each grape was organically farmed and fermented separately before the grapes were combined and spent five months aging in old wood barrels. This white is light, bright, and gives you a bit of everything. Fruit at every end of the spectrum, acidity, and texture for days. Give this a run when you want a white wine that is unlike anything out there today.