Wine Dinner @ Ripple

From Ripple:

On Monday March 25th, please join us for a four-course feast when Ripple proudly hosts Mark Ketcham, who will be serving three of his benchmark wines. This small touchstone winery enjoys critical success due to the contributions of trailblazing winemakers Michael Browne of Kosta Browne, Scott Rich of Talisman, and other Sonoma notables.
 
The first of three featured wines is Ketcham's Estate Viognier 2012. At ninety-eight cases produced, this is as rare as a hen's tooth and as lovely as new world Viognier gets. It's very showy; hitting honeysuckle, citronella, white tea, ripe peach notes that great Viogniers all share. This one, in brilliant contrast to its new world competitors, is underscored by a very lively acidity. Aged in 100% neutral French barrels for six months, it is a perfect complement to spring fare.

Second, we feature the Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2010. This wine hails from their seventeen-acre vineyard in Healdsburg, CA. It is planted with a variety of Dijon and Pommard clones known for developing the subtleties that Pinot Noir lovers crave. Though this is every drop an American Pinot Noir, with sweet red cherry fruit, barely ripe strawberry, and black raspberry at the forefront, it has the fresh fall leaves, cherrywood, sage, and cedar of Burgundy. Adam Smith, formerly of Shea Vineyards and Domaine Serene in Oregon, expertly crafts this cuvée. 383 cases made.
 
Our final Pinot is the Ketcham Estate Ketcham Vineyard 2010. Made from thirty-year-old Pommard vines along with a smattering of Dijon clones, this is a wine of extreme balance. Again, it has a clarity of fruit that the best American Pinots all have but with something more. In addition to its red raspberry, currant, strawberry, mulberry compote, it has focused acidity and a veritable potpourri of herb notes that few temperate climate wines possess. Only 310 cases produced.
 
This is great opportunity to taste some superb wines from some of the dominant minds in the Russian River Valley. Tickets for the event are $85 and there are thirty seats available. This is an amazing value. We look forward to seeing you there!
 
Please phone or email to make reservations. 202-244-7995 or danny@rippledc.com.