Looking for a tasty white wine? Reach for Cline!

If you’ve ever driven up to Napa via I-121 by way of I-37, you’ve passed Cline Cellars on the left in Sonoma. There’s a sign just north of the winery entrance on which a clever rhyming phrase is always posted. A lot rhymes with Cline (other than wine, which is very convenient).

Cline is probably most known for Zinfandel, but they offer many different wines. With the arrival of Spring, the winery has just released some distinct and delicious white wines. The following two boast the Green String stamp on the label, which is Cline’s commitment to natural and sustainable farming.

The 2012 Sonoma Coast Cool Climate Pinot Gris (on sale for only $11.05/bottle) has a richness of fruit and beautiful opulence that you might think it’s seen some oak. But it was produced exclusively in stainless steel, preserving its naturally vivacious acidity and elegance. Green apple and grapefruit aromas greet the nose while Asian pear and citrus linger on the palate long after the initial taste. It’s divine on its own, but this wine is a perfect pairing for springtime vegetables and seafood. At this price, it’s definitely worth having on hand!

The 2011 Sonoma Coast Marsanne Roussanne ($22/bottle) is like a tropical vacation for the taste buds. It is a sunny straw color in the glass with aromas of honey blossom and tropical fruit. The palate is dominated by juicy pineapple with lingering mineral notes. This is a blend of 76% Marsanne and 24% Roussanne, two varieties that you don’t see much in California. (There are less than 250 combined acres of these grapes planted in the Golden State.) With exciting acidity and a delicate weight in the mouth, it would be amazing on an warm day with a Nicoise salad with seared ahi tuna or fish tacos.

The 2012 North Coast Viognier is slighter deeper in color and flavor but has equally appealing acidity. It smells of peach and nectarine. The palate offers ripe stone fruit character, minerals, and a touch of beeswax. It is medium-bodied and has an attractive fullness that finishes with lemon peel and lime zest. This pure Viognier is complex and incredibly easy to drink. It would be an awesome match for triple-cream cheeses, English pea risotto, or roast chicken. This wine should be available soon!

These wines were received for sample purposes. Please visit the Cline website for more info about ordering and tasting room hours. Cheers!

Recommendations from the Rhone Rangers Tasting

When I think of wines from the Rhône Valley, I think of juicy Grenache, meaty Syrah, and complex GSM blends. But the first wine that wowed me at the 16^th Annual Rhône Rangers Grand Tasting event in San Francisco this past weekend was a white wine. It reminded me of how tasty the white Rhône varieties are—and with the weather warming up, this was a helpful reminder!

When I arrived at the Fort Mason Pavilion on Saturday afternoon, I didn’t have a plan of action. The wineries were organized alphabetically so I started at Andrew Murray and strolled down to Davis Family Vineyards, a booth that was crowded and a winery I'd never heard of before.  

I was very impressed with the Davis Family 2009 “Cuvee Luke” ($26/bottle). Named after their grandson and sourced from vineyards in the Sierra Foothills, this refreshing white is a classic blend of Marsanne, Roussane, and Viognier. It is opulent yet balanced with ripe fruit flavors and lively acidity. The Davis Family Tasting Room is in Healdsburg and also offers quite a few red wines including Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Syrah.

I discovered a scrumptious Grenache from Mounts Family Winery, another Healdsburg-based winery. Their 2010 Grenache ($30/bottle) is estate-grown in the Dry Creek Valley. It is medium-bodied and luscious with plenty of red fruit on the palate and a finish that tastes like strawberries and spice.

My next stop was for the famed 2011 Grenache Blanc ($24/bottl) from Two Shepherds Vineyards. Recently recommended by Jon Bonné in the SF Chronicle, it is a delicious and super-limited production sourced from the Santa Ynez Valley. Aged on the lees in a combination of neutral oak and stainless steel, this white wine is abundant and persistent on the palate with citrus. stone fruit, and excellent acidity. Winemaker and founder William Allen uses an Old World, hands-off approach as he gently “shepherds” the grapes from the vineyard to the bottle. His Grenache ($32/bottle) and Syrah ($35/bottle) come from Russian River Valley and are very tasty with bright fruit and delicate tannins.

The best Mourvedré I tasted was from Kenneth Volk Vineyards. From the Enz Vinyeard in Lime Kiln Valley (San Benito County), the 2009 Mourvedré is rich and succulent with notes of black cherry, licorice, and blueberry. If you’re into “heirloom” wines, definitely check this winery out—they produce wines that are not usually farmed in California, including Torrontes, Aglianico, Negrette, and Tempranillo.

As I approached the end of the alphabet, I arrived at Zaca Mesa, a winery in Los Olivos that I visited about eight years ago. From the vibrant 2010 Viognier (only $16/bottle!) to the tasty 2008 “Z Cuvee” ($20/bottle), the wines were just as enjoyable as I remembered them. Current winemaker Eric Mohseni even poured me a little something special—the 2009 Black Bear Block Syrah ($60/bottle), which stole the spotlight. It was powerful yet elegant with flavors of blackberry, plum, and licorice. The Black Bear Block was named for the black bears that live nearby; it is the oldest remaining Syrah vineyard on the Central Coast and was the first planting of Syrah in the Santa Barbara County. It was truly a grand finale!

If you didn’t make it to the Rhône Rangers tasting this year, I hope you can make it next year. It was a great event with so many fantastic producers. Thank you to the organizers and all of the participants! There are RR events coming soon to Los Angeles (June 23^rd) and Chicago (September 11-12^th).

Are you a fan of Rhône varieties? Who are your favorite producers of American Rhône wines?

Chenin Blanc does not equal jug wine

On Tuesday evening, I arrived for a twilight tennis match with a bottle of 2011 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier in hand. It had been such a hot day, and the idea of drinking something cold and refreshing after my match was something I looked forward to. 

A few other players brought wine, but my bottle was a hit--no pun intended. It was gone before I could refill my glass and it sparked a conversation about Chenin Blanc and its unfortunate association with jug wine.

Chenin Blanc used to be widely planted in the 1970s. It was a high-yielding variety that could thrive in the most unforgiving of conditions; thus it was mass-produced and easy to chug. Today, only a teeny tiny number of California vineyards are still planted to Chenin. 

The varietal on it's own can be one-dimensional and overly acidic, which is why it has become so unpopular over the years. But when produced in small batches and with the addition of Viognier for weight and complexity, Chenin Blanc can outrank any jug wine by a long shot. 

The Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier is light, bright and fresh.  It is a lovely blend with citrus, peach, and honeysuckle notes. 

The twist-off cap makes it a great bottle for picnics, BBQ's and post-match parties. I found it at Trader Joe's for $10.99! 

Darioush: the Persian Palace in Napa Valley

The first time I went to Darioush Winery, I was overwhelmed by its grandiose architecture. Just driving past the tall gate and down the driveway lined with Persian columns, you know you're in for a visual treat. I felt a little like I was in a real life enactment of "Aladdin".

Once inside, you are welcomed into the hustle and bustle by an attractive concierge. You are directed to an empty spot at the tasting counter or to a private area where another smartly dressed

attendant will greet you; before your wines arrives is the perfect opportunity to feast your eyes on the palatial beauty of the Tasting Room and its ambassadors.

It amazes me how busy Darioush always is, but it never feels chaotic. The Darioush staff interacts with each other and the customers as if this were a ballet performance; it's an elegant experience provided by knowledgeable professionals (no dance attire, but no jeans, blue hair, or visible tattoos either).

The second time I visited Darioush in March 2009, I noticed a great improvement in the wines.

I really enjoyed the Pinot Noir and the Merlot and even the Chardonnay. Although Darioush is among many Napa Valley producers that bottle Syrah, Darioush is the only winery that I know of in the state of California (in the country maybe?) that calls it Shiraz.

In Australia, it's Shiraz. In America, it's usually referred to as Syrah. It's technically the same grape but it tastes differently depending on where it's grown. And Persians believe they were the original growers of this particular varietal, where they refer to it as Shiraz, too. But when I think of the more subtle differences between Shiraz and Syrah, tannin structure immediately c

omes to mind. The Australian version of this wine is always much bigger and tannic (sometimes with chunky, chalky, or ill-integrated tannins) than the American Syrah. So when I tasted the Darioush "Shiraz", I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth and approachable it was.

Most recently, I liked all of the wines I tasted at Darioush. The "Duel" (a Cab/Shiraz

blend, something that you won't see at any other winery) is still too tannic for my taste buds, but the Merlot (so opulent and plummy), the Cabernet Sauvignon (sturdy yet fruit-forward but a little pricey for my current income), and the Viognier (refreshing and delicious) stole my heart!

We stocked up on the Merlot and the Viognier, which in a good economy sells out by Labor Day. With a floral nose that leads to a medium body of tropical and stone fruits, and slightly sweet finish, this Viognier rivals any German Spatlese or even the fuller flavored Auslese. I highly recommend taking a bottle of the Darioush Viognier to Go Fish Restaurant in St. Helena. This is the perfect wine for sushi!

Inventory Time with Pride

With all of the winery visits and tasting adventures we had in 2009, Matt and I have accumulated quite a collection. We're in the midst of taking inventory of our wines and organizing them; in doing so, I've discovered that we have quite a few bottles of Pride Mountain wines.

Our visit to Pride Mountain Vineyards over the summer was an exceptional experience, one that prompted Matt to return a few days later and stock up on the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 Vintner's Select Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 Pride Merlot and 2007 Viognier.

To get there, you take a very windy road up Spring Mountain almost to Sonoma. I suggest planning a visit on a clear, sunny day and taking a picnic--there is a great vista with a picnic table a few yards from the Tasting Room. Once you've made it all the way up to Pride, you'll want to take your time and stay awhile.

When we arrived for our tasting appointment, Russ was kind enough to take us for a tour of the property. He led us through the library (which with oversize plush leather chairs and dim lighting felt like a very cozy cigar lounge) and through the caves (where we tasted young wines and wines still in barrel). He also took us to the edge of the property which offered brilliant views of the mountain terrain and terraced vineyards.

The wines were all delicious (it was hard to pick a favorite). All Pride wines are estate grown, and the mountain fruit lends an earthy, robust quality to the red wines. The Chardonnay and Viognier are surprisingly fruit-forward with great minerality.

The 2006 Cab delivers rich dark fruit flavors supported on a frame of sturdy tannins and good acidity. Surprisingly, it's ready to drink now, but for those who are patient, this wines will only get better with age.