White Flashcards
Muscadet
Claude Branger, ‘Le Fils des Gras Moutons’, Sèvre et Maine, France, 2019 $50
100% Muscadet (aka Melon de Bourgogne)
Talking points: Current winemaker works with his son, vineyard was passed down from his grandfather. Certified organic!
Tasting notes: Crisp and bright acidity, fresh lemon, sea salt, and lime zest.
Chignin
Charles Gonnet, Vin de Savoie, France, 2020 $56
100% Jacquere
Talking points: Located in the French Alps on the border with Switzerland. Hand harvested and pressed immediately!
Tasting notes: Bright and crisp, notes of pear, green apple, and grapefruit. Clean and easy-drinking.
Albarino
Thee & Thou, Sierra Foothills, California, 2019 $59
100% Albariño
Talking points: Organic. Winemaker was a skyscraper engineer who left his career to pursue wine making. Studied at Clos Saron before producing his first cuvée in 2011.
Tasting notes: Dry with high acidity and a little bit of funk, lemon curd and apple.
Hondarribi Zuri
Getariako Txakolina, ‘Ameztoi’, Spain, 2021$85
100% hondarribi zuri
Talking points: Fifth generation, family-run vineyard. Wine is fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts. A touch of residual CO2 gives the wine its iconic spritz.
Tasting notes: Mineral-driven, briny and spritzy, with low alcohol and high acid. Tastes like a salted lime.
Turbiana
Allegrini, ‘Oasi Mantellina’ Lugana, Lombardy, 2021 $62
96% Turbiana, 4% Cortese
Talking points: The Allegrini family has been making since the 16th century. Hand harvested, soft pressing of de-stemmed grapes. Spends 4 months aging in stainless steel, and two in the bottle before release.
Tasting notes: Made from perfectly ripe fruit, which produces a rich and creamy palate balanced by a fresh acidity. Floral with notes of white peach and almond.
Pinot Gris
Salway, Baden, Germany, 2019 $70
100% Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder)
Talking points: Hand-harvested, gentle press. Fermented in stainless steel
Tasting notes: Dry and medium bodied, notes of grapefruit, green apple, and lemon.
Sauvignon Blanc - Semillon
DeLille Cellars, ‘Chaleur Blanc’, Columbia Valley, Washington, 2019 $62
69% Sauvignon Blanc, 31% Semillon
Talking points: Whole cluster pressed and fermented in 90% French oak (60% new), and 10% stainless steel, aged 7 months on lees.
Tasting notes: Medium-plus bodied, with a waxy texture and long finish. Very floral on the nose, with notes of key lime, pear, and buttered toast on the palate.
Chenin Blanc Blend
A.A. Badenhorst, ‘Family Wines’, Swartland, South Africa, 2017 $110
Chenin Blanc, Rousanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Verdelho, Grenache Gris, Clairette Blanche, Semillon, and Palomino
Talking points: The blend changes each year, but Chenin Blanc is always the base. A small amount of grapes are picked underripe to maintain acidity in the final product.
Tasting notes: Complex and textured, with notes of ripe stone fruit and citrus blossoms.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
Domaine de la Charbonnière, Rhône, France, 2020 $129
40% Roussane, 40% Grenache Blanc, 20% Clairette
Talking points: Family run estate which is now operated by two sisters. Veronique the current winemaker was instrumental in modernizing the winery while enforcing organic winemaking practices.
Tasting notes: Soft and elegant, with fresh acidity, and a full body. Stone fruit, roasted almond, and chamomile.
Garganega
Pieropan Soave DOC, ‘La Rocca’, Veneto, Italy, 2020
100% Garganega
Talking points: Hand picked at the end of October, often in two harvests to select the ripest grapes. Grown in chalky, clay soil overlooked by a medieval castle.
Tasting notes: Perfumed and elegant. Notes of tropical fruits and marzipan on the nose, medium to full bodied, with enough acidity to cut through the richness on the palate.
Sancerre
Isabel Garrault, ‘Les Grands Monts’, Loire Valley, France, 2021 $103
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Talking points: Family owned for 10 generations. Focused on preserving traditional wine-making methods, and sustainable farming. Hand harvested and fermented in stainless steel.
Tasting notes: Zesty and fresh with vibrant acidity. Lemongrass, citrus, and ripe pear.
Vouvray
Domaine Huet, ‘Clos Du Bourg’, Demi Sec, Loire Valley, France, 2017 $130
100% Chenin Blanc
Talking points: Founded in 1928, and have been farming biodynamically since 1990. Iconic producer of vouvray, now owned and operated by a brother/sister team who maintained all original staff when they purchased.
Tasting notes: Enough acidity that the subtle sweetness is not cloying. Notes of pear, ripe apple, lemon, and honey.
Chardonnay 1
Le Domaine D’Edouard, Bourgogne Côtes d’Auxerre, France, 2018 $90
100% Chardonnay
Talking points: Neighbor to Chablis. Eduard left a career in champagne marketing to study wine-making from renowned winemakers. Organically farmed, hand harvested grapes, and minimal intervention approach to wine-making, hoping to express the true terroir of his home.
Tasting notes: Apple, pear, peach, and pineapple. Some round creaminess to balance out the sharp acid.
Chardonnay 2
Ramey, Russian River Valley, California, 2018 $102
100% Chardonnay
Talking points: Whole cluster fermentation, with native yeasts. Is aged mostly in oak, with 5% in concrete egg. Not overly buttery like some Cali Chards.
Tasting notes: Green apple and pear, with a creamy medium body and bright finish.
