In 2013, nudged by his friend Josie Leitz, whose Rieslings from Germany’s Rheingau have set the bar for the region, Raj came across a block of old-vine Riesling in the eastern Santa Ynez Valley. The long, sluggish ripening of these grapes seemed perfect for the quintessential high-acid wine: a classic Riesling. And so the Troken came to be, not to mention with plenty of help from John Faulkner, who is now making the wines for our Evening Land label and exploring the future of alternative white varieties there in Oregon. Using traditional methods from Josie himself, John and Raj crafted a fresh, textural and delicious Riesling now released straight from the cellar 11 years later.

With a hint of spritz and gorgeous aromatics in the glass, it’s safe to say this wine hasn’t lost a bit of energy in the 11 years since it was made. The combination of key lime, apricot, honey and pool toy — a joyful bouquet for Riesling lovers — is a dead ringer for this grape, and even those who haven’t been won over by its charms just yet will appreciate the generous mouthfeel and zesty fruits and florals that pulsate with acidity on a long, warming finish. At 10.5% alcohol, it’s also an effortless wine to drink.