Refreshing Summertime Sippers

Summertime is my favorite time of year. As the temperature rises, I am more inclined to reach for something chilled and refreshing. Here are a few options to help keep you cool…

2011 Chateau Lestrille Blanc, Entre-deux-Mers (under $15/bottle, bordeaux.com): I tasted this refreshing white at the Wine Riot event in San Francisco earlier this month. Fermented and aged in stainless steel for three months, this crisp wine is mostly Sauvignon Blanc blended with a little Muscadelle. It has aromas of white flowers and citrus with peach and stone fruit flavors. With vibrant acid, this wine is best sipped alongside fresh oysters, summery salads, or moules frites.

2011 J Winery Pinot Gris ($15/bottle, jwine.com): As always, this tasty bottling is crisp and clean and perfect for just about any occasion. This easy sipper offers aromas of Mandarin orange, stone fruit and melon. Vivacious acidity balances the melon, citrus and minerals on the palate. It has a screw-top closure and lots of food pairing potential, especially with spicy foods. 

2011 Domaine Perraud Mâcon-Villages Vielle Vignes ($18/bottle, fpwm.com): Who loves White Burgundy with a small price tag? I do! I do! This Chardonnay is unadorned with oak and pleasantly fruit-forward. Lively acidity and green apple flavors make it a great match for a sunny afternoon by the pool, a goat cheese salad, chicken dishes, or sauteed shrimp.

2010 Cornerstone Cellars Sauvignon Blanc ($25/bottle, cornerstonecellars.com): This wine is aged sur lie in French oak for six months following fermentation in stainless steel. Pale straw color in the glass with the tiniest tinge of green, it has alluring aromas of lemon peel and guava with a very subtle note of fresh herbs. The palate is equally as mesmerizing with mouthwatering acid, bright minerals, and snappy citrus flavors. This is an inspired Sauvignon Blanc that pairs with everything from a triple-cream cheese (as shown in the pic) to fresh crab or even lobster risotto. 

2011 Smith-Madrone Riesling ($27/bottle, smithmadrone.com): If something light and fruity is what you’re seeking, this Riesling from the Spring Mountain district is it. With a lower alcohol content (12.6%) and brilliant acidity, the stone fruit flavors explode on the palate. With less than 1% residual sugar, it is technically a dry wine and delicious at lunchtime. 

Splurge 2004 Nicholas Feuillatte Brut Blanc de Blancs ($50/bottle, mainstreetwinebar.net): This vintage Champagne is utterly dreamy! It has a perfume of roasted hazelnuts and freshly baked bread. The palate is nutty and yeasty with racy green apple flavors and a kiss of caramel. Not particularly fruity, this sparkler is best served all on its own! 

As always, thank you for reading Sip, Swirl, Savor. Please follow me on Facebook and Twitter for wine events and more fabulous wine-related content. 

Cheers,

Cortney

Carneros Appellation Recommendations

Many people don’t realize how many fantastic tasting rooms there are halfway to Napa! Less than 30 miles from San Francisco, the Carneros appellation provides lots of places to whet your palate...

On a recent trip to celebrate a friend’s thirtieth birthday, our first stop was Gloria Ferrer. Sitting outside on the terrace is a wonderful experience on a clear, sunny day. Instead of ponying up to the counter, you can sit back and enjoy the views while the hospitality staff delivers your choice of a tasting flight or glasses table-side. I highly recommend the 2004 Royal Cuvée ($32/bottle). A blend of two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay, this delightful sparkler offers citrus and stone fruit notes balanced by toast and rich yeasty aromatics. The 2007 Blanc de Blanc ($32/bottle) is also very pleasant with refreshing green apple flavors and crisp minerality!

Less than a mile down the road is the tasting room for Anaba Wines. I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve driven by this tasting room a thousand times as I speed up the Carneros Highway (Route 12) to downtown Sonoma or Napa.

With no appointment necessary, I popped into the Anaba tasting room last week a few minutes after 5 PM (yes, they stay open until 5:30!). The tasting menu features many vineyard-designate Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs as well as Rhône varieties and blends. I was very impressed with the variety!

I highly recommend the 2010 Anaba Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($32/bottle). It is a deliciously drinkable wine with lots of lovely dark fruit and subtle complexity. A blend of fruit sourced from the famed Gap’s Crown Vineyard and Sun Chase Vineyard (both sites are part of the Petaluma Gap), this Pinot is aged in 35% new French oak barrels. With a whisper of oak and silky dust-like tannins, you can enjoy this wine on its own, with salame and cured meats, pizza, roast chicken or even fish like salmon and tuna. This wine can be ordered direct from the winery, enjoyed by-the-glass at Restaurant Picco, or purchased at Main Street Wine Bar.

Other tasting rooms worth checking out in Carneros include Domaine Carneros, Cline Cellars, and Nicholson Ranch. There’s also Schug, Etude, and Acacia (which I haven't visited yet but they are on my list). Cheers!