 |
2009 Pinot Gris - Santa
Barbara County
Heading north along the 101, we veer to the west maybe 25 miles before King City, through rolling arid hills, dry oak scrub country, past the bar at Jolon where the old man lost his daughter in a game of cards, eventually climbing the back slopes of the Santa Lucia Range. At the top of the ridge it’s really hot, but the landscape changes dramatically; now we’re into deep steep canyons filled with shade, redwoods, bay, madrone; waterfalls splashing through ferns and granite boulders. It’s a three-thousand foot drop down to the ocean, all in about 3 miles. “Into the Mystic” is on the car stereo. In our descent we look down on the backs of whales grazing out beyond the kelp beds before we’re there, the cool grassy bluffs above Kirk Creek, a sweet salty sea breeze blowing. Like the journey just described, here’s the ’09 Pinot Gris: that contrast between dry and refreshing, that hint of cool ocean air, flowers and minerals, snappy and clean. Food-wise it’ll be happy with almost anything from the sea, equally with spicy flavors from the South Pacific, Asia, or the Mediterranean. I’m thinking seriously about nigiri sushi here, or a smoked trout salad up at Nepenthe. Our featured recipe pairing is Zucchini-Corn Fritters with Cilantro Pesto
Case Production: 1,312
Price: $18.00 per bottle, $194.40 per case. Wine Club Price: $14.40 per bottle, $172.80 per case
Please
click here for printable winemaking and tasting notes. |
 |
2009 Pinot Gris - La Encantada Vineyard,
Sta. Rita Hills
… And the water was made into wine… and the wine makes us want to be near water, ocean, river, lake, or stream… a wine of imagination, conjuring memory: prowling the tide pools at White’s Point during the “big dry” (Fijian for an extremely low tide); a two-week sailing trip to Santa Cruz Island aboard the “Rosslair” with Pablo and Pops; a sandy bend of the Smith River in northern redwood shade; flying our own plane into Natividad for 3 days of a perfect south swell; Tom and Huck on their raft down the Big Muddy… Refreshing, stimulating, invigorating… or relaxing. Savory frittatas, fried squash blossoms, a platter of high-end salume with flash-seared chilaca peppers, pasta carbonara with extracrispy pancetta and crisp-fried shallots… mmm… Our featured recipe pairing is two-fold: Steamers with Sausage or Debora Madison's Ricotta & Roasted Chile Tacos.
Case Production: 115
Price: $28 per bottle $302.40 per case. Wine Club
Price: $22.40 per bottle, $268.80 per case.
Available from the winery only
Please
click here for printable winemaking and tasting notes. |
