Community Tasting Note

DaveZack Likes this wine:

Tuesday, June 16, 2015 - We got this bottle from Fess’ wine club in September, 2013. The bouquet is very floral and pretty, exhibiting elements of white fruits, oak, and creamy oak.
As usual, this is a fantastic alternative to Chardonnay. There is indeed mostly white and pitted fruits up front (like peach, apricot, pineapple, and quince). The “nose” suggested creamy oak and sure enough, this is indeed a VERY rich, creamy, unctuous, mouth-coating (and VERY delicious) white. In addition to the fruit and oaky cream, there are dried herbs and white pepper in the background as well. This wine is VERY well-balanced, with delicious fruits, creamy oak (which adds a tiny bit of cinnamon to the mix as well), savory/dried herbs and white pepper, along with wonderful structural elements (the perfect amount of acidity and tannins, which makes this wine VERY food-friendly). Yes, the wine is slightly high-octane (14.2% alcohol), but the beautifully-balanced elements all co-mingle and exist in the bottle harmoniously. This white exhibits nice depths-of-flavors, with delicious ripe fruits up front, followed closely by the oak and spice elements, leading to a long, creamy, elegant, lingering finish that (thanks to the acidity and tannins) delicately cleanses the palate.
Speaking of which, I paired this wine with one of my all-time favorite proteins: scallops sautéed in curried butter. This wine paired PERFECTLY with the scallops and would also pair well with most chicken and medium-bodied white fish dishes as well. This wine is drinking perfectly well right now and has the “legs”/structure to continue to age and mature gracefully (like Sophia Loren) for another 2-to-5 years. Personally, I would drink this wine right now and for the next year or two.
Are you sick of drinking Chardonnay day and night?!?! If you LOVE Chardonnay and would like to try something similar but different, this varietal (and this bottle in particular) would be a PERFECT alternative/choice. This Rhone varietal is one of my favorite white varietals in the world, and Fess and Tablas Creek (one of California’s best wineries (based in Paso Robles)) pretty much always knock it out of the park. Winner winner, chicken dinner!!!!

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