Dry Creek Vineyard Releases Celebrate 50th Anniversary

Dry Creek Vineyard is celebrating 50 years as a pioneering winery in Sonoma.

Dry Creek Vineyard not only is located in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley, it has done much to establish the standards of quality for that prestigious wine region. The history of this multigenerational family winery is full of notable firsts within the industry:

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

1972:  First winery built in the Dry Creek Valley following Prohibition.

• 1972:  First to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the Dry Creek Valley.
• 1972:  First to label a wine as “Fumé Blanc” in Sonoma County.
• 1982:  First to display a sailboat on a wine label, a bold and daring move beyond the popular chateau-style labels of the time.
• 1983:  First to pioneer Dry Creek Valley’s American Viticultural Area (AVA) status.
• 1985:  First to label a wine as “Old Vine” Zinfandel, setting off an industry trend.

   

• 1987:  First to label a wine as a “Meritage,” illustrating the family's love of Bordeaux blending.
• 1997:  First to release a “Heritage Clone” Zinfandel from pre-prohibition vine cuttings.
• 2017:  First to receive a U.S. patent for the design of printed sustainable sourcing information on a cork.
• 2022:  First to release 50th consecutive vintage of Dry Chenin Blanc in the United States.

Here are the latest releases as the winery continues its 50th-anniversary celebration.

2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley

Dry Creek Vineyard really led the way for Sauvignon Blanc in Dry Creek Valley and we love their vision of this wine. It is made of 81% Sauvignon Blanc, 16% Sauvignon Musqué, and, 3% Sauvignon Gris. The Gris provides a creamy texture while the Musqué adds weight and juiciness. The flavors are bright tropical fruit, lemon,  and melon. We love Dry Creek Vineyard’s Fume Blanc, but this is a step up in complexity and elegance. It’s also a refreshing change from the jarring acidity of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

 

2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley

Dry Creek Valley is primarily known for Zinfandel, but the AVA has almost as much Cabernet Sauvignon planted. This is a wine that delivers inviting flavors in a medium-to-full body. It’s enjoyable to sip on a summer’s night – as we did. The flavors are lush and elegant with cranberry and black cherry with undertones of coffee and leather. It displays the hallmark of Dry Creek Valley wines: floral and spice notes.

The blend is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot with small amounts of Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. While this Cab can be aged for another five to 7 years, its rounded edges make it very approachable now. Also approachable is the $32 price tag.

2019 The Mariner, Dry Creek Valley

The Mariner is perhaps our favorite red wine. It’s an elevated wine created with finesse and the vision of creating the finest Meritage from the Dry Creek Valley with the five noble Bordeaux grapes. Each year the footprint is a bit different as the winemakers search for the best lots in Dry Creek Valley, including Dry Creek Vineyard’s DCV9 Endeavor vineyard. This year the blend highlights Cabernet Sauvignon (61%) with 18% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 11% Malbec, and 2% Cabernet Franc.

The wine gets 20 months of aging in French and Hungarian oak, 42% new. During the fermentation, the wine gets pump-overs twice daily. All vines are 20+ years old. The point is, that all steps are taken to make this a special wine.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Dry Creek Vineyard Celebrates 50 Years Of Innovation And Excellence

Dry Creek celebrates with a special anniversary edition of its signature Fumé Blanc.

Setting Sail With Fumé Blanc

Years ago, before I had any notion of becoming a wine writer, I was perusing a shelf at a wine shop hoping to find something interesting for dinner. At that time, my definition of “interesting” included being reasonably priced.

I was attracted to a bottle with a boat with a billowing sail. It was Dry Creek Vineyard’s Fumé Blanc. My wine knowledge then was pretty limited and I didn’t even know what grapes were in it. Well, we loved it and this version of Sauvignon Blanc has been a staple for us ever since.

We aren’t alone in our love of Fumé Blanc and this year there is special cause for celebration. It’s the 50th anniversary of Dry Creek Vineyard.

Dry Creek Vineyard is one of the last, truly-private family wineries in Sonoma County. They consistently produce 90-plus rated wines.

The Roots Of Dry Creek Vineyard

It all began 50 years ago with David Stare and a dream. Stare traveled to Germany after completing his engineering studies. It was there he developed his interest in wine. Soon after his family spent two weeks in France, where he developed a love of Loire Valley and Bordeaux wines.

His path then led west to California where he discovered a rundown 55-acre prune farm in the Dry Creek Valley region of Sonoma County that was to become his dream location. He purchased the orchard and began planting the region’s first vines since Prohibition. Stare was determined to plant Sauvignon Blanc, despite the advice of several famed vineyard experts who warned that the variety was “inappropriate” for the region. He ignored the warning and plowed ahead and established an iconic and innovative Dry Creek winery. Today Sauvignon Blanc is the most widely planted grape in Dry Creek Valley.

Here’s a look at two 50th-anniversary Dry Creek Vineyard releases:

2021 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County

Before even tasting a drop, you can tell that this is a special wine. On the reverse side of the front label is a drawing of the 1972 Fumé Blanc label. The front of the label has a nice embossed 50th-anniversary seal. The reverse of the back label has three historical photos.

While there are aromas of cut grass and grapefruit, don’t expect a New Zealand-style Sauvignon Blanc. Upon sipping, a lovely balance of acidity and tropical fruit is evident. Bright notes of tangerine and a cooling minerality keep you reaching for one more glass. This wine is our favorite California Sauvignon Blanc and at $16 it is an amazing value. I also place this in the “people pleaser” category: no matter your guests’ wine knowledge or palate, they are sure to love it.

2021 Dry Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg

There just isn’t enough good quality Chenin Blanc, like this bottle, to go around. If you only know Chenin from inexpensive bottles from South Africa or perhaps overly sweet Vouvray, you’re in for a treat. This wine reflects the Loire Valley-inspired roots and has been produced every year since the winery was founded. The grapes come from the Wilson Ranch in Clarksburg.

On the nose, there are melon and white blossoms. Finished in stainless steel, it is a refreshing wine, with flavors of peach and lemon. It has a soft texture and a lower ABV of 12%. Wonderful with seafood or as an aperitif, the SRP is $16.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Dry Creek Vineyard The Mariner and Old Vines Zinfandel Great Picks For Holiday Gifting

Ready for the holidays? These two bottles from Sonoma will help you celebrate.

Perfect Picks

I recently got an email from a friend trying to pick my brain on what wines to give as gifts. It got me thinking about what makes for a great holiday wine gift. After sampling two new releases from Dry Creek Vineyard, I think I have my answer.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

We opened up the 2018 The Mariner and the 2019 Old Vine Zinfandel. The winery is located in Dry Creek Valley, one of our favorite AVAs in California’s famed Sonoma wine country. Each bottle has just what it takes to fill Santa’s stocking or to present to anyone planning on ringing in the new year.

The Mariner has long been our favorite red blend. It is a Meritage, which is America’s answer to Bordeaux’s famed blends. It must include two of the “noble” Bordeaux grapes and no grape can exceed 90%. It usually applies to a winery’s top blend.

The blend for the 2018 version of The Mariner (it changes slightly each year) is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. It is aptly named because the winemaker must navigate his way through the vintage. We’re happy to say winemaker Tim Bell navigated the choppy seas without crashing on the rocks.

Two Great Gifting Recommendations

The Mariner opens with aromas of cranberry and black cherry. The first sip has a bit of heat even though this is 13.9% ABV, less than many “big” California reds. Upon sipping the aggressive initial impression faded into a delightfully smooth texture and dark fruit.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

One of the reasons we dub this a great gifting wine is that it has multiple layers that will delight savvy wine lovers. It has savory notes as well as cocoa and white pepper. The finish displays vanilla and a hint of violet. Part of the complexity is due to the aging for 18 months in French and Hungarian oak, 44% new. The cooler harvest allowed additional hang time for the grapes to develop their wonderful character. The Mariner is priced at $50.

I was quite anxious to open and try the 2019 Old Vine Zin, since we just love OVZ. My wife had me hold my horses until the next night so that we could pair it with some nicely grilled herbed lamb chops.

Old Vine Zin And Lamb Chops

This is a big, rich wine that benefits from being paired with a robust steak, or as we found, some perfect lamb chops. The fatty nature of the meat tames the magnitude of the wine, which clocks in at 14.5% ABV. Dry Creek Vineyard knows their grapes and the addition of 19% Petite Sirah and 3% Carignane adds to the allure.

The OVZ is aged for 15 months in French, Hungarian, and American oak, 22% new. The tannins give nice structure, but the overall texture is rounded. There are lush tones of black cherry, espresso, and cedar.

The vines for this bottling average more than 100 years old and some are nearly 140 years old. As the vines age, their yield goes down, but each grape is a masterpiece of concentrated flavor. This is an ideal gift for your friends who like to grill or enjoy a hearty steak. At $38 SRP, you may consider picking up a couple of bottles.

I’m pleased to see that Dry Creek Vineyard wines are widely available, but if you can’t find these bottles in your local wine shop, they are available for purchase online.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

Dry Creek Vineyard New Releases Hit The Summer Entertaining Trail

Grab one or more of these three wines for your next patio wine extravaganza.

Patio Party Planning

When that old sun begins to shine on the backyard and the grill is smoking away, you need just the right wines for the friends descending on your patio. Here is a trio of new releases from Dry Creek Vineyard that capture the fun of a wide-open summer.

2020 Dry Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg

Dry Creek Vineyard has produced Chenin Blanc every year since the family winery was founded in 1972. That’s a lot of Chenin!

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

It took some luck and skill to bring this delicious wine to market. A wildfire in Sonoma and one in a remote forested area threatened the purity of the region’s wine grapes. Since white grapes aren’t fermented on their skins, they are less susceptible to smoke taint. Lighter pressings were also used to limit the potential impact.

This is a simply wonderful Chenin that is a perfect dinner guest. Honeysuckle and peach notes on the nose give a foretaste of what’s to come. Lemon, melon, and a hint of orange zest grace the palate. The wine has a soft and filling texture. It is an ideal pairing for seafood or shines as an aperitif. SRP is $16.

2019 Heritage Vines Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

I’ll cut right to the chase: This wine rocks! The Heritage Vines are pre-Prohibition era vines grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock. The result is young vine wine with Old Vines characteristics. This is perhaps our favorite Zinfandel of the bushels out there.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

We popped this one open at the end of an evening of dinner and wine with friends. It was time for something sweet. Out came a chocolate mousse pie.

I’m not sure if this is an ideal pairing – but it does combine two longtime loves: chocolate and excellent Zin! Some Zins entice you with jammy fruit flavors. The Heritage Vines is a more refined bottle with complex layers changing and dancing as you drink.

The black cherry and raspberry notes fill the mouth as you enjoy highlights of toasted oak and savory herb. It’s a rich and round wine with silky tannins. The finish is all mocha with a dash of white pepper. At $26, this is a tremendous value.

2020 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County

Buy this wine and buy it in abundance for your summer entertaining. This Fumé Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the most planted grape in Dry Creek Valley and a variety championed by Dry Creek Vineyard. It’s a classic dry wine that is now in its 49th vintage.

It’s modeled after the beloved wines of the Loire Valley in France and it has a chic yet fun style that’s perfect for summer. Lime and the smell of fresh-cut grass highlight the bouquet. On the palate there is grapefruit aplenty with peach and tropical flavor. The acidity is intertwined with a refreshing minerality.

We paired this with Barramundi in herbed butter sauce and Ombré Root Vegetable Gratin. The acidity of the wine contrasted nicely with the fattiness of the fish. The artful gratin dish brought delicate flavors to the meal and the Fumé provided the high notes for the bites.

The wine finishes crisply and with the right chill on the bottle, this is ideal for a warm evening on the patio. At $16 we recommend this as a multi-bottle buy.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

Dry Creek Vineyard Trio Offers Elegance And Charm

Three releases just perfect for your springtime sipping.

As the world slowly lurches forward out of its malaise, it’s time to celebrate with bright and optimistic wines. Can wines be optimistic? We think so, and our mood certainly brightened after tasting these new releases from Dry Creek Vineyard in Sonoma.

2019 DCV Block 10 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

Grapes for this wine come from 30 select rows in the DCV Block 10 Vineyard in Russian River Valley. The grapes are whole-cluster pressed, a technique we especially love in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

It has lemon notes mingled with minerality. Its richness is enhanced by barrel-aging in French oak (28% new) and malolactic fermentation. The overall flavor is bright, with hints of oak from its brief aging. A beautifully balanced Chard priced at $34.

2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley

This is a superb wine that is an undeniable value. The wine is 71% Sauvignon Blanc and includes Sauvignon Gris (7%) and Sauvignon Musqué (22%) clones. The Sauvignon Musqué provides juiciness and the Sauvignon Gris provides texture. We just love the complexity that comes with this blend. It makes other Sauvignon Blancs look plain by comparison.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

The barrel regimen is also unique: 17% is aged in acacia, chestnut, and oak barrels - the rest stainless steel. Dry Creek Vineyard has more than 50 years of experience with growing Sauvignon Blanc in Dry Creek Valley, and it shows. This is a layered glass of balanced acidity, herbaceousness, cooling grapefruit, lime zest and rounded apricot and stone fruit notes. Each nuanced sip beckons you to take one more. SRP is $20.

2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley

Think Dry Creek Valley is only for Zinfandel? Hold your horses. Although the region is known primarily for Zinfandel, the AVA has almost as much Cabernet Sauvignon planted. This Cab benefits from vibrant sunshine and cool foggy evenings to ripen just right while maintaining ample acidity.

This is a silky take on Cab with 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Malbec, and 2% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It spends 19 months in French oak (36% new). There is a cranberry core with floral highlights. A delightful mineral note wraps it all together. We found this to be delightful on the patio paired with a starry night. It is right-priced also, at $32.

Full Disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

Sonoma Zinfandel Highlights Blind Tasting

A blind tasting opens our eyes to Zinfandel.

Eyes Wide Shut

We just love blind tastings. The mystery of not knowing the identity of the wine you are sipping and swirling adds intrigue to any wine occasion. I know that master sommeliers earn their spurs by being able to identify wines, regions, and grapes by taste and aroma alone.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

I must confess it can be challenging. Winemakers have so many tricks up their sleeves. Whether the wine is finished in stainless steel or French oak has a big impact on the wine. The country and region change the picture too -- a Cabernet Sauvignon from South America may be soft as a Merlot while a Merlot from Washington State can be outright bold. And don’t even mention malolactic fermentation.

All this is to say that when the blinders are put on, identifying wine is tricky. It also forces you to tune into your senses of taste and smell. We did that just recently for a patio blind tasting.

Exploring The 2018 Vintage

I was able to nail the grapes for all three wines -- of course, that is because they were all the same: Zinfandel. I also put the wines in the bag, so I was the only one in the group who knew which was which. The identities were unknown to my wife and two guests.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

We fired up the grill and cooked some burgers and Beyond (no meat) burgers to go with the meal. Some homemade coleslaw added some crunch to the burgers. As the meal was served, wine was poured.

Our three Zins were all 2018 vintage. Leading off was the Cameron Hughes Lot 744 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. This wine comes from a small family winery that has been crafting Zinfandel for decades. It’s a limited run of 800 cases. It starts with rich, jammy berries accented with leather notes then flows into spice flavors on silky tannins. This was a great start to our tasting. SRP is $17.

Our second selection was the Turley 2018 Fredericks Vineyard Zin from Sonoma Valley. Turley is one of our favorite producers and is famed for their single-vineyard wines. This wine was dubbed drier than the first and was refined with elegant, laid-back fruit and earthy flavors. The grapes come from a certified organic vineyard and the wine gets 15 months in oak barrels. Truly beautiful at a price point of about $45.

Old Vines Zinfandel

Number 3 was the Dry Creek Vineyard Old Vines Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley. This wine was rich with blackberry and cherry and a lingering finish. It’s complex with bright acidity. The wine has 19% Petite Sirah, adding to the rounded mouthfeel. The vines for this wine average more than 100 years in age and in some cases, nearly 140 years old. SRP is $38.

Before we revealed the wines, everyone critiqued the wines and picked their favorite. I replied that I couldn't pick one, because it is like being asked to pick a favorite child. It was a win-win-win! It was a great demonstration of how elegant Zinfandel can be once you step away from the gimmicky Zinfandel sold in the grocery store.

Full Disclosure: Some of the wine was received as marketing samples.

Here Are Four Romantic Red Wines To Spark Your Valentine’s Day Celebration

Looking for a perfect bottle to celebrate with your sweetie? Here are four top picks.

Ready For Romance?

The stage is set. Candles. Soft music. Delicious meal. What’s missing? That’s right, the perfect wine.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

At Vino-Sphere world headquarters we taste hundreds of wines a year with one goal: to identify the best of the best for you, our readers! Today we are pleased to present our picks for Valentine’s day. Here are four reds (the color of romance!) just perfect for your enjoyment.

Cameron Hughes 2018 Lot 744 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

Yes, we have waxed poetic about the great value and taste of wines from Cameron Hughes. Why not? It’s hard to find wines from prestigious boutique wineries at less than half price. Priced at $17, this wine comes from one of our favorite regions – and one of the world’s best for Zin: Dry Creek Valley.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

You can expect an explosion of jammy flavors flowing into complex flavors of leather and pepper wrapped in silky textures. Decant this for 30 minutes to let the wine open up and display it’s full range of layers. It comes from one of the region’s top family wineries that’s been crafting top-rated Zinfandel for decades. Available through Cameron Hughes website.

Dry Creek Vineyard 2018 Meritage, Dry Creek Valley

This wine is a sure winner and one of our top choices for our own dining and entertaining. Meritage (pronounced like Heritage) is America’s Bordeaux-style wine. Dry Creek Vineyard was the first in California to produce a wine with Meritage on the label, so it knows how to produce it beautifully.

This is an assemblage of 63% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, and 4% Petit Verdot. It seamlessly blends ripe black cherry, caramel, and herb flavors. A complex wine, it pleases from first sip to last. DCV is widely distributed and this bottle has an SRP of $35.

Windsor Vineyards 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

Alexander Valley is the most inland part of Sonoma County and the summer heat and the cooling influence of the Russian River combine to make it a perfect spot for robust reds. Wine grapes have been grown in this special corner of Sonoma County since 1846.

If you are planning a steak dinner for your romantic dinner, this is the ideal pick. Black currant, plum and cocoa flavors highlight this wine which has soft tannins and touches of dark cherry and vanilla on the finish. Part of Windsor’s Platinum Series, it is $30 and available from the Windsor Vineyards website.

Woodward Canyon 2018 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley

We have a hunch that Merlot might be the biggest-seller for Valentine’s Day. The Merlot grape is known as being soft and, well, romantic. Woodward Canyon was the second winery in Washington’s famed Walla Walla Valley and produces premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends.

This is a sophisticated 100% Merlot from the westernmost vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA. It includes an "old vines" block that is now 23 years old. It has a nose of plum and cooked fruit that gives way to tastes of spice and black cherry with leather and oak. A sensational wine priced at $52.

Full disclaimer: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Dry Creek Releases Good Choice For Holidays

Looking for wines for gifts or holiday meals. Check out these four new releases.

California Unlocked

Much of the country – heck, all of it – has been struggling mightily with the pandemic. That includes winery tasting rooms and wine country businesses.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

This morning I was reading a newspaper article about a three-week stay at home mandate in Los Angeles County. Thankfully there is wine – not just to ease our frazzled nerves, but the purchase of which support the wineries, staff and related businesses.

A memorable pre-COVID wine country trip included a stop at Dry Creek Vineyard, one of our favorite wineries. We’ve just tasted through four new releases. They came not a moment too soon. The holiday season is upon us and these Dry Creek Vineyard wines are perfect for holiday meals, gift giving, or just unwinding.

2019 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County

This wine is one of our “go-to” bottles for entertaining. It is reasonably priced at $16 and is a crowd-pleaser that delights wine aficionados as well as wine novices.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

DCV has been producing Fumé Blanc for 48 years. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in stainless steel to preserve the bright, refreshing flavors. Lemon and peach notes align with minerality and a pleasing minerality.

2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley

While the Fumé Blanc echoes the Loire Valley aspirations of the winery’s founders, the second generation of this family winery has produced a more contemporary take on Sauvignon Blanc. The 2019 vintage blends 73% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Musqué, and 7% Sauvignon Gris.

This wine has multiple layers of cool. Not only with the added grape varieties, but aging is in chestnut, acacia and French oak barrels. Add to this the wonderful terroir of Dry Creek Valley and you have a winner for only $20.

We suggest this for a nice holiday meal where seafood or poultry is highlighted. The palate has tropical fruit and a slightly creamy texture.

2019 Dry Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg

Chenin Blanc is plentiful in South Africa and in France’s Loire Valley, but may not be a familiar sight at your wine shop. This is a rich white wine that is perfect as an aperitif or pairing with a light meal. At $16, it is also light on your wallet.

Please not that this is dry Chenin Blanc. Chenin can also be produced as a sweet or semi-dry wine, as is often the case with Vouvray. The flavor palette includes lime and candied lemon mingled with tropical mango notes. It’s fresh and lively and is finished in 100% stainless steel.

Like the other wines produced by Dry Creek Vineyard, the grapes are sustainably farmed. The wines are made with minimal intervention and without any animal-based fining agents or products containing gluten. Put your feet up and recover from the holiday chaos with a glass of Chenin Blanc.

2017 The Mariner, Dry Creek Valley

The Mariner, Dry Creek Vineyard’s powerful yet elegant Meritage, has been one of our favorite wines for more than a decade. It’s a blend of the five noble Bordeaux varieties. The 2017 vintage, retailing for $50, is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot.

Aging is 18 months in French and Hungarian oak, 42% new oak. The grapes come from a hillside vineyard with gravelly, iron-rich soil.

We paired The Mariner with a grilled sirloin steak. On the nose there is cocoa and blueberry. On the palate it is luxuriously smooth with deep raspberry and notes of smoke. There is an earthy complexity.

The Mariner continues to top the charts of our wine favorites. As with other DCV wines, the value is outstanding. It drinks like a much more expensive bottle. As such, we recommend The Mariner as a perfect holiday gift for the wine lover on your list.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

Trio Of Wines Highlight Fall Flavors

The change in seasons requires wine with bold flavors. We uncork three wines to match with our harvest feast.

Three Picks For Autumn

For all our complaints about summer heat in the Raleigh area, we are reluctant to let go of the sunshine and warmth it represents. As the leaves change their hues and days get shorter, we put away the chilled rosé and seek heartier tastes.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

Following a hectic week, I recently traveled back from a conference in Norfolk. At home, the Green Dragon (my wife and the Vino-Sphere culinary guru) and her sister were preparing a feast. When I departed earlier in the week, I left three bottles for them to build a meal around. The featured wines were: Cameron Hughes Lot 638 2016 Petit Verdot, Yakima Valley; Dry Creek Vineyard 2016 The Mariner, Dry Creek Valley; and Dry Creek Vineyard 2018 Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg.

Bringing In The Harvest

The opener was the Dry Creek Vineyard Chenin Blanc. Chenin is a great grape variety that we’d recommend for those wanting to break out of the white wine confines of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. It is the featured grape in Vouvray, one of our favorite French whites.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

For the food pairing, we had a spectacular harvest bisque along with a spinach salad with vinaigrette and strawberries. The bisque was made with butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots with a dash of sherry and maple syrup.

The Chenin Blanc, with an SRP of $16, has melon flavor notes with swirling tropical fruit. It has good acidity that is balanced with rich fruit flavors. Stainless steel fermentation keeps the freshness and there is a slight touch of sweetness. Pairing perfection!

Fall Into The Bayou

As they used to say on the Monty Python show: And now for something completely different… The Green Dragon got busy while I was gone researching what would make a good pairing with Petite Verdot. She concluded that it required food with bold, spicy flavors. What she came up with was a bit of a surprise.

Paired with the Cameron Hughes Petit Verdot was Cajun red beans and rice – something you’d more typically dig into during Mardi Gras. But this was a tasting meal and we weren’t going to let geography stand in the way of an ideal pairing.

We love a bargain on wine. That’s one reason we’ve always appreciated Cameron Hughes. Cameron Hughes is a négociant, with no vineyards or winery. Instead, it buys wine from premier wineries and sells under its own label direct online – without disclosing the original producer.

That’s how they can sell Lot 638 Petit Verdot for $15 instead of a $40 price point. Lot 638 comes from the prized Red Mountain region of Yakima Valley in Washington.

Inky dark, this is a smooth and powerful wine that certainly pairs well with spicy food. Delicious plum and blackberry flavors abound. We didn’t want this bottle to end. It’s Cameron Hughes’ first offering of Petit Verdot. We certainly hope to see more in the future.

A Spectacular Finish

Just last night someone was asking me to name my favorite wine. I responded that it’s like trying to pick a favorite child – I’ve got lots of favorites. If pressed, though, I would say that Meritage – the American Bordeaux-style blend – is my favorite. Our favorite Meritage is Dry Creek Valley’s The Mariner.

Ninety-nine percent of the work on the wine dinner was done by the Green Dragon and her sister Janine. However, the 1 percent that I contributed was crucial. The Mojo Pork Tenderloin with grilled peppers and avocados was cooked by yours truly. Considering I also grilled the asparagus, oranges, and green onions, maybe my contribution was actually 2 percent!

Darkness was coming on, so we lit the tiki torches and candles and sat down to savor a special bottle of wine. The 2016 The Mariner is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 7% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. We decanted for about an hour.

The Mariner is a complex, layered wine that retails for $50. Perhaps it was the outdoor setting or the meal we served, but I judge this wine primed and ready to drink now. Yes, it can age for another five to seven years, but it is drinking beautifully now. It’s a limited-run wine, with a production of 1,378 cases.

My first impression was in the red fruit zone: cranberries and dark cherry. Sipping and swirling reveals a smidge of spice along with dried fruit, mocha, and leather. The rising nearly full moon and the flickering flames of the firepit completed an idyllic scene.

The Mariner is made with hillside vines that average more than 20 years old. Aging is in French and Hungarian oak, 48% new.

While the days of sipping chilled wine under a blazing summer sun might be gone for now, the door has opened for bold flavors and rich reds. Try these three wines to enjoy the autumn season to its fullest.

Technorati Tags: Meritage,Dry Creek Valley,Yakima Valley,Petit Verdot,Chenin Blanc,wine tasting,wine

Dry Creek Vineyard 2018 Fumé Blanc and 2018 Sauvignon Blanc

Husband and wife don’t always agree. Such was the case with these two Sauvignon Blanc releases from Sonoma Country.

A Tale Of Two Palates

Anytime two different wine drinkers imbibe, you can expect a difference of opinion. One Instagram contributor I follow, for example, keeps posting photos of visits to interesting wineries in our state – but every wine shown is a sweet fruit sugar bomb. That’s clearly out of step with where I am in my wine appreciation journey.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

My wife (known as the Green Dragon) and I often think alike. That’s not so strange when you’ve been married for a while like we have. It’s not uncommon for me to say, “I’d really could go for some Mexican food tonight” and she’ll say, “I was thinking the same thing.” Our taste in wines are usually in sync too – but not always.

A Doubletake On Sauvignon Blanc

We recently opened two new releases from Dry Creek Vineyard, the 2018 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County, and the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley. Although both Sauvignon Blanc, they are two different animals in the glass. We had two different favorites.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

Fumé Blanc is an approved alternate name for Sauvignon Blanc and was coined by Robert Mondavi when he was trying to jumpstart the California wine industry in the 1960s. While some associate Fumé Blanc with an oak finish, that isn’t always the case. This Fumé is fermented in stainless steel with no oak aging.

The Green Dragon leapt for joy with the Fumé Blanc. The racy acidity, aroma of cut grass, and dynamic citrus flavors push all the right buttons. Made with grapes from Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley in Sonoma, this is a perennial favorite with us. It is refreshing and intense with pure flavors. At only $16, this is a flavorful value.

Going For A Different Twist

While Green Dragon was going ga-ga over the Fumé Blanc, I was appreciating the Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc. It offers complexity and style at an amazing price point of just $20. To start with, it’s not just Sauvignon Blanc. It has 15% Sauvignon Musqué and 9% Sauvignon Gris. The Sauvignon Musqué, a clone, delivers added body while the Sauvignon Gris gives a unique texture to the wine. All grapes come from the Dry Creek Valley AVA.

So, instead of a New Zealand style Sauvignon Blanc, there is a more sophisticated quality. As if the grape selection weren’t enough to pique your interest, a portion of the wine is fermented in acacia, chestnut and neutral French oak barrels. That’s cool.

This wine tips toward tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and tangerine. This has a fuller body than the Fumé Blanc with the acidity not as pronounced. It has a grand elegance you wouldn’t expect at this price and is my pick of the two.

Both bottles will make great pairings with light summer fare including chicken and fish. Of course, sipping them nicely chilled on a warm summer evening works too.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: Sauvignon Blanc,Dry Creek Valley,California wine,wine tasting,white wine,wine

Six Surefire Picks For Your Springtime Sipping

Dry Creek Vineyard Meritage

When a wine shipment didn’t arrive in time for a scheduled party, we decided to “go rogue.” The results were delightful – six wines we recommend for your springtime sipping.

Two days before our party, I had a sinking feeling. The special shipment of wine that was going to be the centerpiece of our soiree hadn’t arrived. There were no messages from UPS or Fed-X. When I contacted the shipper, she explained that there was an unfortunate mistake. Yikes!

While our tasting was to focus on a very specific wine region, that was now off the table. We had to “go rogue.” I immediately surveyed the available wine and picked a half-dozen bottles certain to scintillate our guests.

2018 Fleurs de Prairie Rosé, Cotes de Provence

Fleurs de Prairie Rosé - better with Wisteria!

Kicking off the party was the 2018 Fleurs de Prairie Rosé. In reviewing background material for the wine, I noticed that the wine is a tribute to the fields of flowers in the Cotes de Provence region. Wisteria flourishes in this part of France as it does in our hometown. We quickly were on an expedition (successful!) to find wisteria for a nice centerpiece.

Fleurs de Prairie is a beautiful rosé, perfect for a spring filled with blooming trees and flowers. It is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan and Mourvedre that tastes light as a feather, with delicate flavors of strawberry with some herbal notes. Just the right amount of acidity makes this a balanced wine, and one perfect to pair with light dishes. The price is about $17.

Fleurs de Prairie is also notable for its Seeds of Beauty campaign, which recognizes and supports women who are dedicated to creating beauty in their community. Seed grants of $2,500 are available.

Inurrieta Mimaò with barbecue meatballs

2018 Ochoa Calendas, Navarra

2016 Inurrieta Mimaò Garnacha, Navarra

Navarra is a northern Spanish wine region known for its beauty and diverse terroir. It is also home of the famous Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) which influenced many winegrowers to use French grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chardonnay-Viura blend
from Navarra, Spain

The Ochoa Calendas is a blend of 75% Chardonnay and 25% Viura, a well respected white grape. We paired this with pan seared salmon with lemon garlic cream sauce. This is a nice blend, with the Viura adding freshness and nice acidity to balance the classic Chardonnay flavors. It was perfect with our salmon. A bargain at just $12 SRP.

Garnacha from Spain can often take on a rustic flavor, but the Inurrieta Mimaò is a smooth sipper. It is fermented in stainless steel and gets malolactic fermentation to add a plush texture. It is finished with seven months in French oak.

We found this to be a very pleasant surprise with mineral notes and plenty of ripe fruit. This reminded me of the French Grenache style, light, easy and very satisfying. This is also a steal at $15. We’ll be on the lookout for more wines from Navarra.

Territorial Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley

2014 Territorial Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley

Is it possible to have a good party without serving Willamette Valley Pinot Noir? I guess it is theoretically possible, but we didn’t want to take a chance.

This Pinot from Territorial Vineyards is juicy with plenty of savory notes. We served it with rosemary seasoned chicken sausage with grilled apples and gouda. The acidity and tannins are knit together well in a balanced wine with plum and blueberry flavors.

Eighteen months in French oak is the crowning touch for this beautiful bottle. It is well priced at $26.

2016 Dry Creek Vineyard Meritage, Dry Creek Valley

Dry Creek Vineyard Meritage has long been one of our favorite wines. It’s a blend of some of California’s best grapes and this Sonoma wine comes with a much lower price tag than its Napa Valley neighbors. In 1985, Dry Creek Vineyard was the first to produce a wine with “Meritage” on its label.

The 2016 vintage is 65% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec and is rounded out with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is aged for 20 months in a combination of French, Hungarian and American oak and so it needs to open up to be fully enjoyed.

The drinker is rewarded with big flavors of black cherry and currant with some spice and leather notes. Just beautiful! This wine is priced at $30 and is also a good pick to cellar for three to five years.

Laughing Stock Blind Trust hides its blend under its capsule

2011 Laughing Stock Blind Trust, Okanagan Valley

We had one more mystery for out “going rogue” tasting party crew. The Blind Trust wine from the British Columbia winery Laughing Stock doesn’t advertise its blending grapes. When I purchased the wine it was with  blind trust because we love wines from Okanagan Valley. The blend isn’t revealed until the bottle is opened and the capsule pulled away.

The Blind Trust was justified. This is a great wine with a blend of 47% Merlot, 31% Malbec, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 4% Syrah for good measure. This wine has swirling minerality with beautiful herbal notes to give this a unique character. Blueberry and black cherry lead the way. 

Wines from Okanagan are outstanding, but few reach the US, unfortunately. The current vintage of Blind Trust is sold out (we’re not surprised!) so we recommend investing in the 2016 Portfolio, a nice Bordeaux style blend.

You don’t need our permission to “go rogue.” Just pick up a bottle or three and uncork!

Full disclosure: Some of this wine was provided as a marketing sample.

Dry Creek Vineyard 2014 The Mariner, Dry Creek Valley

A blind tasting reveals The Mariner as a top pick among red blends.

The Captain Wore A Mask

When it was our turn to host the local wine group’s tasting we decided the theme would be red blends. A fun twist to the tastings is that these are done blind. We usually feature four different wines.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

Dry Creek Vineyard 

I selected Tannat blend from Uruguay, a Super Tuscan and a Washington State Merlot blend. For the fourth spot, I rotated three different wines. One was a Bordeaux and the other two were from California. Each wine was snuggled inside a cloth sack with a letter: W, I, N or E.

This was the perfect opportunity to share one of our favorite wines – The Mariner from Dry Creek Vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley region of Sonoma

Navigating Great Flavor

The Mariner is a proprietary blend that Dry Creek Vineyard debuted in 2004. Like a mariner keeping the ship off the dangerous rocks during a billowing storm, so a winemaker has to successfully navigate through the ups and downs of a vintage. In the case of 2014, Sonoma was experiencing the third year of the California drought. Although the grapes ripened at sugar levels lower than normal, the fruit tasted beautiful. In December, well after harvest, the winery had 20 inches of rain in less than two weeks – a welcome relief.

Check out our reports on more than 200 wineries

Our red wine blind tasting lineup

The 2014 blend for The Mariner is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 9% Merlot, 8% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. That’s the highest percentage of Cab I’ve tasted in a Mariner.

The poor blend from Uruguay and even the Super Tuscan were completely blown out of the water, so to speak, by The Mariner. The Mariner gave a good broadside of complex spice flavors woven with dark, rich fruit.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

The tannins of the 2014 The Mariner give enjoyable structure and the promise of an even more beautiful wine in five to eight years. The Mariner is aged in French and Hungarian oak, 40% of it new, for 19 months.

The Fuquay-Varina Wine Tasting Group

With an SRP of $50, we consider The Mariner to be a standout value among quality California reds. We suggest laying a few bottles down to age. If you don’t have the patience, that’s fine because it drinks beautifully right now. We suggest decanting for 45 minutes or so.

Tasting blind or with eyes wide open, our tasting party guests are ready to join The Mariner’s crew. One bottle and we think you will be too.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: wine,wine tasting,Sonoma,California wine,red wine

Dry Creek Vineyard 2016 Old Vine Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

Kicking The New Year Off Right!

There was quite a bit of commotion around the house for the holidays. Starting right before Christmas we had a steady stream of family house guests. Our ensemble included three dogs – one of our own plus two guest pooches.

Check out our reports on more than 200 wineries

New Year’s Eve featured a soirée with guitars blazing, munchies being munched and a score of party-goers ringing in 2019. Plenty of sparkling and white wine was consumed, but only one red wine was featured: Dry Creek Vineyard’s 2016 Old Vine Zinfandel.

It was a sterling selection! Not only is Dry Creek Vineyard an outstanding producer of Old Vine Zinfandel, they actually coined the term “old vine” back in 1987. The Dry Creek Valley region of Sonoma produces some of the best Zin in California.

An old vine vineyard is one that has vines more than 50 years old. In the case of the Dry Creek Vineyard Old Vine Zin, the vines are all 95 years or older, some nearly 130 years old! The older the vine, the fewer grapes produced – but each grape has concentrated flavors sought for the very best bottles of wine.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

The OVZ from Dry Creek is a delight. Adding to the complexity of the wine is 19% Petite Sirah and 3% Carignane. The flavors are lush black cherry and dark chocolate with just the right nip of baking spice. This is a new release, but it features rounded tannins and a rapturous finish that goes on and on.

The SRP for this bottle is $35 – a nice value for such a flavorful experience. We rate this bottle highly. It was nice to sip in the party’s aftermath as we reflected on a year that seemed to go by so quickly and looked forward to a new year. Cheers to you. We wish you many delicious experiences in 2019.

Technorati Tags: Zinfandel,California wine,Dry Creek Valley,wine tasting,Sonoma

Latest Dry Creek Vineyard Releases Offer Crisp Refreshment, Refined Flavors

A trio of new releases from Sonoma’s Dry Creek Vineyards has something for almost every palate.

We recently had the chance to “test drive” three new wines from one of our favorite wineries, Dry Creek Vineyards. They each are very different wines, but each caused us to return to the bottle for a refill.

2017 Dry Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg

We had planned a special wine dinner in honor of friends visiting from out of town. I originally planned some big reds, but blistering hot weather changed our plans. We opted for some light, summery food and wine.

We paired the 2017 Dry Chenin Blanc with Potato & Wild Salmon Cakes with Ginger, Scallions and Dill Sauce. It was accompanied by a spinach salad with strawberries, blueberries and toasted hazelnuts.

Dry Creek Vineyards has produced dry Chenin Blanc every year since the winery was founded in 1972. This is a bracing, crisp white wine. Stainless steel fermentation keeps the flavors of pear and green apple fresh. It’s lively and a spot-on pairing with seafood of any sort. SRP is $15.

2017 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County

We love Fumé Blanc, a handle used for some Sauvignon Blanc in California. Priced at $15, this is one of our favorite QPR (quality price ratio) wines. In short, you’re getting a great value that’s sure to please. This Sonoma version of Sauvignon Blanc has bright lemon and grapefruit flavors without over-the-top acidity. (I’m talking to you, Marlborough!)

We enjoyed this bottle on a warm evening on the patio. Winery founder David Stare was the first person to plant Sauvignon Blanc in Dry Creek Valley – and now it is the most widely planted white grape in the region. Mouthwatering flavors and a nice minerality!

2015 Old Vine Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

It’s hard to believe, but true. Dry Creek Vineyard first coined the term “Old Vine” in 1987. Those are two words we love to hear – especially attached to Zinfandel. Old Vine vineyards are usually defined as averaging more than 50 years of age. For this particular bottling, the vines are more than 95 years in age and in some cases, more than 110 years old.

Why does that matter? As vines age, they produce fewer grapes. In the counterintuitive world of winemaking, that’s a good thing. Since there are fewer grapes, each receives a greater concentration of flavor. This bottle has 76% Zinfandel, 22% Petite Sirah and 2% Carignane. It is a delightful example of Zinfandel at its best.

This is a refined drinking experience with layers of cranberries, raspberry and cocoa. We detected a bit of spice and pepper on the finish. It is aged 16 months in French, American and Hungarian with 27% new oak. The aging regimen gives added complexity.

The 2015 Old Vine Zinfandel is a winning wine for any occasion. It retails for $35 with a production of 2,200 cases. It’s a wine we highly recommend.

Full Disclosure: We received these wines as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: Zinfandel,Chenin Blanc,Sauvignon Blanc,Dry Creek Valley,Sonoma,California wine

Lambert Bridge: A Dry Creek Valley Winery Visit

Nestled into the redwood forested hills just west of Dry Creek we discovered a haven for wine lovers and an epicenter for magnificent Bordeaux-style red wines.

Number 1 Tip For Locating Great Wineries

When we are exploring wine regions we spend a lot of time in advance studying maps, researching online and trying to figure out which wineries to visit. In some regions, like California’s wine country of Napa and Sonoma, there are more than 100 wineries and we may only have time to visit a handful (or two).

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

We’ve found that the most dependable tip for a great winery visit doesn’t come from a glossy brochure or a blinking computer screen. It comes from the recommendations of others during your travels. We often ask the winemaker, tasting room staff or new friends we meet on the wine trail for their recommendations on which wineries to visit next. Hyperbole from websites and magazines is one thing – but the word of mouth recommendation from someone who has been there trumps it all.

Such was the case during our recent visit to Sonoma where we discovered a truly great winery in Dry Creek Valley, Lambert Bridge. The recommendation for Lambert Bridge came from the marketing director at Dry Creek Vineyard. When we finished our visit there we loaded into the van following a her hot tip.

Lambert Bridge Experience

The Lambert Bridge winery grounds are scenic and tranquil. Sitting in front of the stone and wood winery building is a perfectly restored vintage Ford panel van.
When we walked into the tasting room, it was like entering a wine sanctuary. The décor features rustic wood finishes, soaring ceilings and a beautiful stone fireplace. We were greeted by J.P Lonergan, the estate sommelier.

Check out our reports on more than 200 wineries

The winery is named for the nearby trestle bridge which spans Dry Creek. Dry Creek Valley has long been a favorite of ours and is home to some amazing California wine minus the hype of Napa Valley. The C.L. Lambert family settled the area a century ago. Six decades later, Jerry Lambert (no relation) was drawn to the land with winemaking in mind. In 1993 Ray and Patti Chambers purchased the winery with the goal of crafting Sonoma’s best small lot wines.

During the wine country wild fires in October 2017, Lambert Bridge avoided major fire or smoke damage. Thankfully, 90% of the harvest was in, although a full block was lost in the Moon Mountain AVA. Some staff members had to evacuate and the entire region was impacted in one way or another. JP displayed a blob of metal melted by the intense heat of the fires that damaged property and took lives, but couldn’t overcome the spirt of the wine community.

Spot-On, Sophisticated Wines

As we soaked in the great surroundings of what some people call “the wine church” we were ready to soak in some great wine. We led off with a pair of whites, the 2015 Bevill Vineyard Viognier and the 2014 Sonoma Chardonnay, which had luscious apple and pear flavors.

Lambert Bridge is known for their meticulous focus on quality, with a berry-by-berry sorter, small-lot fermenters and premium French oak barrels. The quality shows brightly in their lineup of reds.

We tasted a trio of Zinfandel:

• 2014 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel – Cherry and spice with dark fruit. Has 2% Petite Sirah. SRP – $50
• 2015 Meyers Vineyard Zinfandel – Nice pepper and brambly fruit. Well balanced.
• 2013 Forchini Zinfandel – From a benchland vineyard with gravelly soil. Wild raspberry and bright acidity. SRP – $60.
• 
  

The wines made with the traditional Bordeaux grapes were elegant and flavorful, with not a bad drop between them. We sampled the 2012 Merlot, 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2014 Cabernet Franc.

Three powerhouse reds closed our tasting:

• 2013 Winery Ranch Vineyard Petite Sirah – This inky dark wine has deep blackberry flavors and is a perfect pairing for roasted meats. A wonderful bargain at $55.
• 2012 Limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon – Baked cherries and spice swirl in this limited production wine. SRP $110.
• 2013 Crane Creek Cuvée – This signature wine is 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec. A delicious, ripe blend with sophisticated flavors. SRP $110.
• 
  

Lambert Bridge is a small-production winery with craftsmanship that dazzles. Consider this your insider tip: Make it a “must see” stop on your next trip to Sonoma wine country.

Technorati Tags: wine,Sonoma,wine country,winery visit,Dry Creek Valley,Zinfandel,Cabernet Sauvignon,winelover

Dry Creek Vineyard 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley

Triple your Sauvignon Blanc enjoyment with this new release that not only includes Sauvignon Blanc, but two grapes you may not know as well.

A New Generation Sauvignon Blanc?

Dry Creek Vineyard has been a family-run winery for more than 45 years. Located in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley, it has a long history with Sauvignon Blanc. Founder David Stare was the first to plant the grape in Dry Creek Valley.

The second generation, President Kim Stare Wallace and winery partner and husband Don Wallace, is leaving its imprint on the winery and its favorite grape.  The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Vineyard takes a twist on traditional Sauvignon Blanc.

The wine incorporates not only Sauvignon Blanc, by 13.5% Sauvignon Musqué and 5% Sauvignon Gris. With warm weather rapidly approaching, we wanted to get to the bottom of this new bottle. Literally!

Something Old And Something New

Sauvignon Musqué arrived from France in 1962 and this clone or Sauvignon Blanc is now a popular planting in California. The grape is aromatic and provides a vibrant and juicy weight to the palate. Sauvignon Gris is a unique copper-colored grape. Although sparsely planted in France, it is used by some of the top Bordeaux wineries as part of their blend. At least a couple eminent California wineries, Chimney Rock and Chalk Hill, have released single varietal Sauvignon Gris.

Dry Creek Vineyard is known for delivering great quality at affordable prices. The 2017 DCV Sauvignon Blanc is $20, but delivers flavor beyond its price tag.

The 2017 growing season was challenging, with record-setting rain, followed by foggy and windy days and an extreme heat wave. By the time the wildfires came in October, almost all the wineries lots had been harvested. Despite that, the grapes show an excellent concentration of flavors.

In the glass, the 2017 DCV Sauvignon Blanc differs from most other California Sauvignon Blanc. The Sauvignon Musqué adds depth, giving it a light-medium body. The Sauvignon Gris provides a nice layered complexity. The fermentation regimen is also unique. Stainless steel tanks were used for 82% of the grapes while the rest fermented in a combination of acacia, neutral French oak and chestnut barrels. Prior to 2016, the aging was 100% stainless steel.

The end result is a wine with tropical fruit aromas and a slightly creamy texture. The barrel fermentation adds nice character. This is a distinctive wine, engagingly different than somewhat boring “typical” California Sauvignon Blanc and yet not as “over the top” as some New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Dry Creek Vineyard’s 2017 release is Sauvignon Blanc to the 3rd power. Chill it down and check it out.

Full Disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: Sauvignon Blanc,Dry Creek Valley,Sonoma,California wine,wine