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!

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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.

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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.

Split Personality? Dry Creek Vineyard Crafts Two Very Different Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is a sprightly wine, bright with acidity. The wine maker’s touch can produce elegance or electricity.

Deciphering Fumé Blanc

Are you a wine lover who is puzzled when greeted with a bottle of Fumé Blanc? It’s from California, but the exotic jargon may cause shoppers to stroll down the aisle. Don’t make that mistake!

Fumé Blanc is Sauvignon Blanc. The term was originally coined by Robert Mondavi’s winery. Some credit this marketing effort with propelling Sauvignon Blanc to become the second most popular white wine variety in California (behind Chardonnay). The term sometimes means an oaky style of Sauvignon Blanc.

Dry Creek Vineyard has a long history with Sauvignon Blanc. Winery founder David Stare loved the fresh Sauvignon Blanc of France’s Loire Valley. He became the first person to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the Dry Creek Valley AVA. Forty years later, Fumé Blanc continues to be the flagship wine of Dry Creek Vineyard.

There is no oak aging with the 2015 Dry Creek Vineyard Fumé Blanc. It is fermented in stainless steel and is crisp and balanced. On the nose there are citrus notes and a waft of minerality.

On the palate there is a refreshing rush of honeysuckle and apricots. It is a light wine with a vibrant acidity. It impresses with clean and pure flavors.

A perfect wine for hot weather – or to stir up sunny memories during a chilly fall. At $14, why stop at buying only one bottle?

Sauvignon Blanc Musqué Anyone?

With 40 years of pioneering Sauvignon Blanc in California, Dry Creek Vineyard has a few tricks up their sleeve. They produce five different Sauvignon Blanc wines including a dessert wine. They have a pair of single vineyard releases including the 2014 Taylor’s Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Musqué.

So what exactly is Sauvignon Blanc Musqué, you may ask. It is a Sauvignon Blanc clone. A clone is a subvariety of a particular grape that may have slight differences in aroma, flavor, vine health or ripening ability. For example, there are hundreds of Pinot Noir clones. Don’t confuse it with a “cross,” which is when two different grape varieties are cross-bred.

This wine comes from Taylor’s Vineyard on the western bench of Dry Creek Valley. It receives no oak aging to preserve its fresh fruit flavors.

In the glass it is pale yellow and swirling releases a grassy aroma with whiffs of citrus. It is a medium-bodied wine with a bit more restraint than the angular New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. There is a nice flowing acidity with crisp grapefruit flavors. The finish provides a pop of acid on the tongue.

The Musqué adds complexity compared with the typical Sauvignon Blanc. The flavors are deeper, the body fuller and a richer texture. This wine also has the potential to age for about five years – something that isn’t typical for most white wines. It would be interesting to see how the flavor profile changes in a few years.

This duo of wines shows the possibilities of Sauvignon Blanc. The Fumé is a crowd pleasing wine for any occasion. The delicious Taylor’s Vineyard Musqué provides a more adventurous experience. It still is a strong value at $20. Regrettably, the 2014 vintage has been sold out – but this wine has been produced each year since 2011, so expect a new vintage in the not too distant future.

Full disclosure: We received these wines as marketing samples.

Dry Creek Vineyard 2014 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County

Don’t be confused by the name. Fumé Blanc is zesty, flavorful Sauvignon Blanc. This bottle from Dry Creek Vineyard is a favorite value pick.

 

What’s the Difference Between Fumé Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc?

In short, there is no difference. Both wines are Sauvignon Blanc. Decades ago California wine pioneer Robert Mondavi realized that no one was buying Sauvignon Blanc, so he changed the name to Fumé Blanc and sales took off. He decided not to trademark the name, allowing anyone to use it.

The Wine That Put Dry Creek Vineyard On The Map

Since 1972 Dry Creek Vineyard has produced Fumé Blanc. Founder David Stare was the first person to plant Sauvignon Blanc in Dry Creek Valley. The wine is modeled after classic wines from France’s Loire Valley and it is immediately drinkable.
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This Is A Personal Favorite Of Ours

I can’t claim to have tasted Dry Creek’s Fumé Blanc in the 1970s. Back then I had a lot more Stroh’s beer than fine wine. But it was the first Sauvignon Blanc I ever tried, and it was delicious from the first sip.

We’re big fans of Sauvignon Blanc and it is right at the top of our list of favorite whites (along with Riesling). California Sauvignon Blanc often lacks the crispness we enjoy in wines from the same grape hailing from New Zealand. DCV Fumé Blanc, however, hits the bullseye.
The wine is fermented in stainless steel, keeping a crisp, balanced flavor. The aroma of cut grass is one of the hallmarks of good Sauvignon Blanc, and it flowed forth from our glass.
A zesty acidity keeps the wine lively. In the glass there are flavors of lemon-lime and tart apple. The wine is dry, but not painfully so.

This Fumé Scores A Very High Quality Price Ratio

Occasionally you’ll see us mention QPR. That’s Quality Price Ratio and translates to “bang for your buck” or value. A great bargain on a wine is no deal if you don’t like it.
The 2014 Dry Creek Vineyard Fumé Blanc is a wine you can pop open in a casual setting or something that a crowd would enjoy with dinner. The name Fumé Blanc conveys fun, and the bottle delivers that at a SRP of only $14.
We’re fans and believe you will be too after your first taste. This wine is widely available.
Full disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: wine,Sauvignon Blanc,California wine

Karma Vista Winery: Lake Michigan Shore Winery Visit

Photos and article by Dr. J, TWAV Tasting Team Member

Each year, my wife and I go to South Haven, Michigan with her family as an annual get-away.  Not only is it a great place to visit, it is right in the middle of the Lake Michigan Shore AVA where there is lots of great wine!
Over the last six years, we have been able to visit just about every tasting room in the region.  Our first visit to

Karma Vista was two years ago.  It was our last stop after a long day tasting at many of the wonderful wineries in the Baroda/Berrien Springs area.  
We showed up about ten minutes before the 5pm closing time and were told that the last pours happen at a quarter til the hour.  For other reasons, we didn't make it last year either so this was tops on my list for 2013!  

I checked out the tasting list ahead of time and was excited to see their offerings, especially the Fume Blanc.  Robert Mondavi was the first in the country to use this term due to poor sales of Sauvignon Blanc at the time.  Although Fume Blanc is usually attributed to barrel aging, both oaked and unoaked versions have been marketed under the name.  Karma Vista is the only one in Michigan to have a Fume Blanc and one of only a few to have Sauvignon Blanc at all.  The oak and light butter from the malolactic fermentation really tone down the grassy, grapefruit flavors for a wonderful, distinctive taste.  This lived up to the hype and I took one home.
Next, the Chardonnay was very good.  It too had some oak while being nicely crisp and balanced.
Both the Reserve Merlot and Syrah were spot on for what you'd expect from a quality red in this area: beautiful deep color, with the right amount of fruit and oak.
I try to taste wines new to me, special to a certain area, or even something not common in the area when I can.  The next two were just that.  Cote D'Loma is a blend of Cab Franc, Chancellor, and Chambourcin.  You get loads of fruit and pepper with this blend and a little earthiness.  This is a very interesting and reasonably priced wine. 

The last wine was another great surprise.  New to the list was Marquette.  I was familiar with this Minnesota cold-tolerant hybrid but had never tasted it before.  It is a grandchild of Pinot Noir and shows promise to making high-quality red wine.  This medium-bodied red has a lot going on, on the palate.  There is notes of blackberries, cherry, leather, tobacco, and spice. I was very impressed with this wine and took one with me.  
It took us six years to finally get to Karma Vista and it was definitely worth the wait.  They easily jump towards the top of my list of wineries of the Lake Michigan Shore.

Technorati Tags: Michigan wine,winery,wine,Lake Michigan Shore

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