Winemaker Notes
Zesty acidity is apparent on the nose, with crushed stone and peach aromas most prevalent. Lime peel and grass flavors show on the slightly vinous palate
Blend: 70% Clairette Blanche, 30% Grenache Blanc
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Beautiful Earth White is composed of 70% Clairette Blanche and 30% Grenache Blanc. It has pretty scents of apricot, white peach, orange blossom, brioche and spicy undertones. The medium-bodied palate features concentrated, savory flavors and a touch of textural grip. It's balanced by fireworks of fresh acidity and has a long, mouth-coating finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Zesty acidity is apparent on the nose of this blend of 70% Clairette Blanche and 30% Grenache Blanc, with crushed stone and peach aromas most prevalent. Lime peel and grass flavors show on the slightly vinous palate.
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Wine Spectator
Delicate and pretty, with lemon zest, nectarine and honeydew flavors that glide on the silky finish. Clairette Blanche and Grenache Blanc.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
Paso Robles has made a name for itself as a source of supple, powerful, fruit-driven Central Coast wines. But with eleven smaller sub-AVAs, there is actually quite a bit of diversity to be found in this inland portion of California’s Central Coast.
Just east over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the chilly Pacific Ocean, lie the coolest in the region: Adelaida, Templeton Gap and (Paso Robles) Willow Creek Districts, as well as York Mountain AVA and Santa Margarita Ranch. These all experience more ocean fog, wind and precipitation compared to the rest of the Paso sub-appellations. The San Miguel, (Paso Robles) Estrella, (Paso Robles) Geneso, (Paso Robles) Highlands, El Pomar and Creston Districts, along with San Juan Creek, are the hotter, more western appellations of the greater Paso Robles AVA.
This is mostly red wine country, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel standing out as the star performers. Other popular varieties include Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache and Rhône blends, both red and white. There is a fairly uniform tendency here towards wines that are unapologetically bold and opulently fruit-driven, albeit with a surprising amount of acidity thanks to the region’s chilly nighttime temperatures.