CATCH & RELEASE Middle Child '24

CATCH & RELEASE Middle Child '24 is a vibrant, skin-contact orange wine from Catch & Release Wines, a small Sonoma-based producer known for handmade, low-intervention California wines that prioritize freshness, acidity, and drinkability.

This 2024 release is a field-blend style orange wine made from Riesling, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc sourced from organic vineyards across Northern California:

• Riesling from a wildlife-rich site in Dry Creek Valley (above Lake Sonoma)
• Chenin Blanc from a limestone vein in San Benito County
• Chardonnay from Ukiah off River Road

The winemaking is thoughtful and minimal:

• The Chardonnay sees 14 days of skin fermentation in stainless steel.
• Riesling and Chenin Blanc get a short 2-day maceration (foot-trodden) before pressing.
• The wine then ages 10 months in a mix of stainless steel and neutral oak.
• It's bottled unfiltered with only a touch of SO₂ and native yeast fermentation throughout.

The result is a silky, savory orange wine at 12.7% ABV with beautiful texture and structure.

Tasting Notes

On the nose: fresh apricots with a kiss of flinty caramel. On the palate: layered and textured, offering notes of peach blossoms, tangerine, white flowers, and bright, life-affirming acidity. It has racy citrus energy, subtle phenolic grip, and a clean, refreshing finish that makes it both food-friendly and great on its own.