White Wine Dumol Wester Reach Chardonnay 2019. Cellar for up to 10 years, no decanting necessary. Since 1996, Dumol has been crafting wines brought forth through keen attention to the terroir of their estate, leased and grower-partner vineyards of the Russian River Valley. The Wester Reach wines made their debut in 2019. They honor site-specific expressions through thoughtful blending, balancing and harmonizing. This project comes from two-decades long winemaker and viticulturist Andy Smith who has dedicated his career to intimately understanding the land and its fruit, and then utilizing the best cellar techniques to showcase purity. Wester Reach Chardonnay utilizes fruit from five vineyards. From DuMOL Estate the wine finds its mineral-drive base. Flax Estate centers the wine and brings broad orchard fruit notes. Old vine fruit from Ritchie Vineyard displays orange-tangerine intensity. Morelli imparts supple texture and bright citrus, while Heintz Ranch shows a savorier side delivering complex botanical and truffle qualities. The wine is fermented and aged in barrel, 30% new, for 11 months, sees full malolactic fermentation and is settling for 3 months before bottling. It is rich and textural with aromas of white peach, tangerine, crystalized ginger, hazelnut and steely mineral. The palate welcomes softer stone fruit and citrus oil but finishes vibrantly. Pair Wester Reach Chardonnay with poultry or shellfish, roasted cauliflower and winter squash sides, or a complex main course salad with roasted beets, pistachios, citrus, goat cheese and a warm vinaigrette.
2019
White Wine Dumol Wester Reach Chardonnay 2019
White Wine Edi Simcic Sivi Pinot 2019. Slovenia’s Gorizia Hills sit just across the border from the Italian region of Friuli and are widely recognised to be one of the finest places to make wine in the country. It enjoys Mediterranean climate and protection from the strong Bora winds which can blow fiercely along the coast, making it the ideal spot to craft rich, full-bodied reds and intensely-flavored whites. Edi Simcic established his winery here in 1990 and today he is joined in the family business by his son Aleks. Together they produce a tiny amount of artisanal wines using traditional methods like extended maturation in large oak casks. Sivi Pinot is the Slovenian name for Pinot Gris and the Simcics make theirs in a unique oaked style with plenty of freshness and elegance. The grapes are harvested at optimum maturity while there is still ample acidity to ensure balance in the finished wine. After fermentation the young wine is aged in oak barrels for 10 months to add complexity and body. The result is a richly-textured and stylish Pinot Gris bursting with ripe tropical fruits and hints of smoke, oak and toasted hazelnuts from the oak maturation. This bold, full-flavoured profile makes it a great match for all manner of cuisines ranging from risottos and creamy chicken dishes to gnocchi and lasagne.
2019
White Wine Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc 2019. Drink it now. Frog’s Leap was founded in California in the Rutherford wine region in 1981 and has been a family business ever since. The business is run by John Williams and his son Rory, but the rest of the family (children, grandchildren, and other relatives) have joined the company over the years and actively participate in the day-to-day operations of the company. Frog’s Leap pioneered organic viticulture and California dry farming, which means no irrigation is used. This has been a controversial practice in Napa, but their approach proved wise during the recent drought, when the winery didn’t experience any drop in yield thanks to its practices. This Sauvignon Blanc is a flagship wine for Frog’s Leap. It is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in order to maintain low alcohol content, high acidity, and complex and refreshing flavors. The wine is produced in a food-friendly and extremely fresh style, without going through wood.It has a nice stone fruit nose, reminiscent of citrus and flint aromas. In the mouth, it is wonderfully full and round with good freshness, lively acidity, great balance and a mineral and lingering finish. It generally goes well with vegetarian dishes, Dover sole, seafood, and goat cheeses.
2019