Review of Wasted Youth Tanked 2013

We received the product for review and all opinions are our own.

If you recently listened to our Vintners Vault podcast episode with winemaker Ryan Horn and Sommelier Jason Judy, you probably remember hearing about the wine label, Wasted Youth. The winery is based in Paso Robles, California, and this is the first review Texas Wine Lover has done for a wine outside of Texas. There is a connection between Paso Robles and the Texas Hill Country via Vintners Vault, so we decided it was fitting to review the Wasted Youth Tanked, a 2013 Chardonnay.

The name and labels from this particular winery are energizing and edgy as you can see from the photos. However, the wines inside the bottles are very serious, as I have tasted most of their portfolio and all of the wines were clean, unflawed, and quite complex. When you have someone like Ryan who was part of the winemaking team at Justin Winery for many years, you expect good things from his own label. Now, on to the wine shall we.

The name “Tanked” is fitting, as the wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks only, no barreling involved. The closure in this particular wine is a synthetic cork produced by the Korked company that has a permeable membrane, allowing controlled oxygen transfer to occur over time. I am most definitely a traditionalist when it comes to using genuine cork, but I am totally open to this style of closure.

This Chardonnay is a light golden color in the glass, with aromas of peach, honeydew, honey, and lime rind on the nose. The palate confirms the nose for me almost identically, but without the honeydew notes. The wine is balanced and is very crisp and fresh.

Specifications:

• Wasted Youth Tanked, 2013 vintage
• Winemaker: Ryan Horn
• Appellation: Central Coast, California
• Grape varieties: Chardonnay
• Barrels: None
• Clarity/Brightness: Clear/bright with no detectable flaws and no evidence of gas or sediment
• Tannins: N/A
• Acidity: High
• Alcohol: Medium
• Finish: Medium plus
• Alcohol by volume: 13.2%
• 525 cases produced

A wine inspired by the Macon-Villages, this Chardonnay is more of a classic style as compared to the heavier/buttery California Chardonnays. I found no flaws in this wine and although I typically enjoy oaked Chards with a heavy mouth-feel, this one is very refreshing and will make a good summer companion to help cut through the heat after a long day at work. This wine has ample acidity, so food pairing can be a very broad spectrum as you can jack up the salt and acids in the dish knowing the wine can totally handle and complement it.

Sip, savor, and enjoy my fellow aficionados.