Winemaker Notes
Aromatically, this wine is pretty arresting and unforgettable. Notes of orange blossom, star jasmine and lime are abundant on the nose. Upon entry, a bright note of lemon and minerality hits the palate. In the mid-palate, this wine expands to show great notes of tangerine and nectarine, as well as a core of summer white peaches. The finish is long but never cloying, and finishes clean with natural acidity in spades.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Crisp and clean aromas of honeydew melon, lime peel and slate greet the nose on this zesty bottling of a tremendously promising grape for the Central Coast. The palate offers a creamy yellow-pear center, framed by fantastic citrus-zest acidity and Meyer lemon-pith grip, redolent with interesting texture and tension. Editors' Choice.
Producing full-bodied white wines, Grenache Blanc can be unctuous and soft or floral and fresh. Some of the finest examples are terroir-driven, age-worthy wines. It is a key ingredient in white Châteauneuf-du-Pape and many white blends across southern France and NE Spain. Somm Secret—Grenache Blanc plays a key role in the vins doux naturels of Rivesaltes and a subsidiary role in those of Banyuls and Maury.
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.