Mar
21
Donkey & Goat “Sluice Box” White Wine Blend 2014
Now this is an orange wine I can get behind. A gulpable blend of Roussanne, Vermentino, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Picpoul from California’s El Dorado AVA, Donkey & Goat’s Sluice
Feb
7
Bernard Gripa Saint Joseph Blanc 2013
I have a soft spot for Northern Rhone whites. The top examples of Marsanne and Roussanne from Saint Joseph and Hermitage offer a combination of texture, medium acidity, concentration and
Dec
6
Spotlight on the Swartland Revolution: A. A. Badenhorst White Wine 2010
Swartland has an unusual affinity for grapes. Reds prefer mediterranean varieties but whites succeed best with the distinctly South African blends of Chenin Blanc alongside a crazy mix of Rhone
Sep
14
Elyse L’Ingenue Naggiar Vineyard White Blend 2010
Made with fruit from the Sierra Hills, this Rhone inspired white blend from Elyse fits well within the new breed of surprising, atypical wines from California. Much easier to peg
Jan
7
Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 2011
White southern Rhone wines rarely get written up, and even less so white Chateauneuf. Vieux Telegraphe is of course famous for their red La Crau, but I think this white
Nov
25
Torbreck “The Steading Blanc” Roussanne Marsanne Viognier 2009
White Rhone varieties have the potential for truly outstanding wine. This potential is not restricted to the Rhone valley. Sadly these grapes remain unfairly maligned. Torbreck is a producer from
Sep
22
Spotlight on Unusual California White Wine: Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2010
The Perrin family are one of the few large French producers who entered California and managed to actually make something distinctly Californian, jump start a lesser known region, push a
Mar
30
Francois Villard Saint Peray 2011
Rhone whites are a difficult category, and one which is rarely found in wine shops in North America. I imagine this has mostly to do with familiarity as the quality
Aug
7
Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 2001
The whites of Chateauneuf get little attention from collectors, with perhaps the one exception of Beaucastel’s old vine bottling. Further they account for a mere 5% of the region’s production.
Jan
14
Bernard Gripa St. Joseph Blanc 2006
Recent experience with a 2004 Courbis St. Joseph blanc raised questions about the ageability of these wines. This Bernard Gripa 2006, however, restored my confidence that St. Joseph whites can