I don't know about you, but when I think "Rhone Ranger," I definitely think red wine. Those California producers rolling out the GSMs, the Grenache, and especially the Syrah. But there are some fabulous white Rhone blends coming out of California, and this bottle from Elyse is a classic example.
The wine is a brilliant lemon yellow in the glass, perhaps due to the viognier in the blend; although skin contact is minimal in white wine production, it's possible that the juice picked up a bit of the deep yellow hue of the viognier grape. The depth of color could also be related to the bottle age of this wine, as white wines tend to darken as they age.
The aromas are true to the blend - the floral aromatics of Rousanne and Viognier are here, expressed as honeysuckle with a slightly herbal nature, reminiscent of marjoram. There is also lemon zest, nutmeg (I always get nutmeg from Viognier), and a yeasty vanilla note from 16 months sur lie aging in used Frenk oak barrels. On the palate, the balance is precise. The acidity from the Rousanne cuts through the oily texture of the Viognier and Marsanne, and the tendencey towards high alcohol in all three main grapes is balanced out by the acidity and smooth texture so that the heat is not overwhelming. There is juicy peach here, and fresh fig, and they carry over on the finish, which lasts for minutes.
This is a truly enjoyable wine, which is drinking beautifully now, but which could age gracefully for at least another 2-3 years, if not longer. It would be delicious with herb roasted chicken or a simple sole meuniere.
Vintage: 2007
Region: Sierra Foothills, California
Grapes: 40% Rousanne, 34% Marsanne, 20% Viognier, 6% Grenache Blanc
Price: $25
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