Winemaker Notes
When I first started making this wine it was my quest to make a St. Joseph style white wine, but then it took on a different path. Sure, it was 75% Roussanne and 25% Marsanne, but this wine became more about being The First Date and not a replica of a St. Joseph. It became the understanding that "yes", we can take these varietals to new heights, explore their different flavor and aromatic profiles. Let the vineyard talk, spend time listening to it. Converse back with it. This communication has been the key. This is what a first date is all about.
Both Northern Rhône varietals, Roussanne adds great perfume and a certain delicacy, a touch of Marsanne yields added richness and body to the wine. The wine represents fruit harvested in the peak of ripeness, displaying honey & spiced peach cobbler, full-bodied and backed up with a core of minerality and acidity which allows it to pair nicely with richer foods.
75% Roussanne / 25% Marsanne
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A rich, lush texture and a full body are the base for this fantastic wine. Like a fresh apple pie, with ripe flavors, spicy notes and a buttery crust. Tropical flavors give this extra dimension. Roussanne and Marsanne. Drink now. 213 cases made.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
Responsible for the vast majority of American wine production, if California were a country, it would be the world’s fourth largest wine-producing nation. The state’s diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of red wine styles, and unlike tradition-bound Europe, experimentation is more than welcome here. California wineries range from tiny, family-owned boutiques to massive corporations, and price and production are equally varied. Plenty of inexpensive bulk wine is made in the Central Valley area, while Napa Valley is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious and expensive “cult” wines.
Each American Viticultural Area (AVA) and sub-AVA of has its own distinct personality, allowing California to produce red wine of every fashion: from bone dry to unctuously sweet, still to sparkling, light and fresh to rich and full-bodied. In the Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate vineyard acreage. Sonoma County is best known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rosé and Zinfandel. The Central Coast has carved out a niche with Rhône Blends based on Grenache and Syrah, while Mendocino has found success with cool climate varieties such as Pinot noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. With all the diversity that California wine has to offer, any wine lover will find something to get excited about here.