Last Week's Tasting Notes

Adobe White ($10.50)
Paso Robles, California
From the producer:
"FLAVOR: Ripe peach and crisp apple flavors with hints of creamy orange blossom, lemon zest, and a tease of nutmeg spice.

FOOD PAIRING: Pair with simply prepared seafood and poultry, salads and fresh vegetables. Also great with lightly spicy Asian, Indian, and Latin American cuisine.

WINERY: Each varietal was fermented separately. Raised entirely in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve fruit flavors. Aging on the fermentation lees contributes to a beguiling creaminess. A final blend was determined, and its elements were married a month or two prior to bottling.

36% Viognier  34% Grenache Blanc  24% Sauvignon Blanc  6% Princess"

From me:
This is a delicious, wallet-friendly white blend that is great for spring and summer meals. It has just enough fruitiness to appeal to a broad set of tastes, without being sweet. The lees aging gives it smoothness on the palate and a little bit of body.

Paul Jaboulet Aîné Parallele 45 Côtes du Rhône Blanc ($15.99)
Southern Rhone Valley, France
From the producer:
"History:
This Côtes du Rhône takes its name from the 45th North parallel which runs two kilometres from our cellars. In the village of Pont de l’Isère, a monument symbolises this line with an inscription: 'The South begins here.' Our wine has had this name since the beginning of the 1950s.

Soil:
Loess and sandy soils.

Grape Variety:
50% Grenache blanc ; 20% Marsanne ; 20% Viognier ; 10% Bourboulenc.

Age of the vines: 
25 years.

Vinification: 
In stainless steel tanks.

Ageing: 
2 to 3 months, 50% in oak casks.

Yield: 
40 hl/ha.

Tasting:
Colour:
Pale yellow colour with greenish hues.
Bouquet: 
Aromatic and fresh with white flowers and citrus fruit.
Palate:
Ample and warm, with an attractive fresh final note.

Matching Food and Wine: 
Fricassé of curried mussels
Tressé of brill and salmon with sorrel
Feuilleté de Haddock aux herbettes

Best enjoyed within: 
3 years."

From me:
The appellation Côtes du Rhône is usually associated with red wine, so this is a great way to introduce yourself to the area's white blend. It has fresh white fruit flavors with a hint of floral notes and a satisfying underlying minerality. Partial oak aging smoothes out the mouthfeel without making the wine too heavy on the palate. This is the entry-level wine from a well-known and highly regarded vintner, but it's no slouch!

Owen Roe Coop White Rhone Blend ($24.99)
Yakima Valley, Washington
From the producer:
"'You don’t let the fox guard the henhouse.'
Celebrating the endearing thief in this cautionary tale, the Owen Roe employees humbly bring you COOP, a co-operative employee share wine. Through peerless plundering of the Owen Roe henhouse, we share 100% of the success of this wine.  Drink up. It’s okay to abet in our banditry.

Vinification Details
VIOGNIER 70%  |  MUSCAT 17% | ROUSSANNE 13%

This dry white blend aged 9 months in 100% Stainless Steel fermenters, sourced from our estate Outlook Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. 

TASTING NOTES: Tropical aromas of pineapple and lemon juice are nicely balanced with palate notes of honeydew, fresh cut grass and honeysuckle. Great minerality and bright acidity make this the perfect white wine to pair with grilled fresh-caught seafood topped with a colorful fruit salsa or can be served chilled alongside artisan cheese and charcuterie."

From me:
This is what I call a "geeky wine." The grapes are not as well-known to the American palate, and the blend is very unusual. It's not a surprise to me that the winemakers got to choose it. The flavors come together beautifully, with acidity balancing the fruitiness. Stainless aging allows you to really taste the fruit without the softening effect of oak.