La Rochelle Winery

I don’t know why more people don’t make Pinot Blanc. There are a mere 500 acres of it planted in California. There are over 5 thousand acres of Pinot Gris/Grigio. Oh, and get this: 15 thousand acres of Sauvignon Blanc. What’s a grower to do? Thanks to the Mirassou family roots in Monterey, Steven is able to source some very nice fruit from the appellation and with some fine winemaking techniques, turns out a very fine example of this not very well-known, and sometimes insipidly vinified, varietal.

First impressions sure count. This wine is a glorious gold color, promising something with a touch of richness. The aromas are honeysuckle, citrus and melon, with flavors of tangerines, passionfruit, and baked apples. It’s very rich and expressive with a very lush mouthfeel. The finish is nutty hazelnut with a hint of orange peel. The texture really hints of something French: this is classy, confident wine: a Jacqueline Bisset beauty of a woman in a Chanel suit walking down the Champs Elysee, her Hermes scarf flirting with her well-styled hair. You won’t find her eating pommes de terre, mais non! But she might sit down to dinner with a bottle of this stylish wine and a plate of sautéed prawns in lemon butter and capers, or perhaps filet of sole with white wine and slivered almonds.

(Alc: 14.7%, Retail: $26)

Reviewed February 9, 2007 by Laura Ness.