2016 Avennia Les Trouves White Wine

Full Pull

• By Paul Zitarelli
  Full Pull The Found, 1/23/2019

  (Les Trouves White) Hello friends. In 2015, our pals Chris Peterson and Marty Taucher at Avennia launched a new label called Les Trouvés (French for the found). Now, in its fourth vintage, it has become one of the best values in an increasingly popular category for Washington wine—value GSM blends. Les Trouvés works a little differently than its older sibling. While Avennia is made by Chris, Les Trouvés is more “curated” by him. Some of the juice comes from Avenia, and the rest is meticulously sourced from Chris’ extensive network of winemaking and grape growing colleagues in Washington. The result is a label made for everyday drinking that well outpunches its price—an attractive gateway drug into the greater Chris Peterson house style.I find the Les Trouves white especially exciting because there is nothing like it in the Avennia lineup. Avennia does make a white wine—a barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc—but Les Trouves’ white is all Rhone. 44% concrete-aged Viognier, 37% Marsanne, and 19% Roussanne, the nose is aromatic as all get out. Layers of meyer lemon, pear, flower petals, honeydew, white pepper, and saline; it’s childhood summers spent at the beach eating ripe summer melon by the armful. While the palate presents roundly—full of delicious fruit heft—it is surprisingly bright. Bursting with lemon-lime citrus and spring florals, there’s a bold intensity that lives within its 13.8% alcohol frame. International Wine Report (Owen Bargreen): “2016 Les Trouves White Wine is a compelling blend of 44% Viognier with 37% Marsanne and 19% Rousanne. This golden hued wine starts off with a nose of honeysuckle, white rose and cantaloupe. Fat and round on the mouth, the wine shows a wonderful tension with rich poached pear, starfruit, kiwi and Key lime cream flavors. This dazzling wine is a stellar value. Drink 2018-2022. 91pts”