Winemaker Notes
The 2014 has even more brightness and acidity than previous vintages and so we decided to pair this with an extremely simple dish — oysters with a mignonette. The wine cuts through the brininess on the finish while adding a slight creaminess. This also pairs well with fresh crab, curries, herb infused beurre blancs and Thai inspired dishes.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Honey, concentrated orange blossoms and very ripe jasmine flowers make for a sweet-smelling, nearly treacly nose on this dynamic bottling by Steve Clifton. And in the magic that is this Italian grape, the palate is bone-dry, with touches of lemon balm, lemon verbena and white flower petals. It's unique, interesting and tasty.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I always love this wine, and the 2014 Malvasia Bianca does nothing to change my opinion. Incredibly perfumed, with lemon, orange marmalade, honey, chamomile and exotic flowers, it's one of the most singular wines coming out of California. Fresh, medium to light-bodied, elegant and lively, try it with some cheeses at the start (or end) of a meal.
Persistent with jasmine aromas and tropical fruit flavors, both grape and name are far-reaching. Approximately 70 registered grapes contain Malvasia as part of their name or are listed as a synonym. The French call it Malvoisie, Germans call it Malvasier, British say Malmsey and confusingly one variety double-times under the alias, Boal, on the island of Madeira. In any case, Italy has more forms of Malvasia than any other country: Malvasia Bianca di Candia, Malvasia di Candia Aromatico and the red-skinned Malvasia di Casorzo from Piedmont. The list goes on. Somm Secret—The actual name could stem from an Italian mispronunciation of Monemvasia, a southern Greek port.
Ranging from cool and foggy in the west to warm and dry in the east, the Santa Ynez Valley is a climatically diverse growing area. The most expansive AVA within the larger Santa Barbara County region, Santa Ynez is also home to a wide variety of soil types and geographical features. The appellation is further divided into four distinct sub-AVAs—Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon—each with its own defining characteristics.
A wide selection of grapes is planted here—more than sixty different varieties, and counting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate in the chilly west, while Zinfandel, Rhône blends, and Bordeaux blends rule the arid east. Syrah is successful at both ends of the valley, with a lean and peppery, Old-World sensibility closer to the coast and lush berry fruit further inland.