Spring Fling Release
Who goes to a steakhouse and orders the scallops?
Our wine club is exclusively red wines, and I am loath to change that. One of the most popular features of our club is the fact that it is all red all the time. And I know the insertion of a white wine would be like St. Peter’s taking out Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament, unexpected, and not too helpful when you picked the Wildcats to advance to the final four. Yet I think our scallops are pretty good and I would hate for you to miss out because they are not included in the club. Ergo this missive, and the announcement that we have released our lineup of spring wines; Viognier, Verdelho, Rose of Primitivo, and Muscat Canelli.
The sun is warm, the oaks are cloaked in their fresh emerald foliage, and although the daffodils are beginning to wane the California Poppies are just starting to bloom. The days of matching braises, stews and cassoulets are in the rearview mirror and a glimpse through the windshield reveals grilled chicken and salmon accompanied by a wine that delivers a bright refreshing flavor.
SPRING RELEASE INCLUDES:
2021 Rose of Primitivo – We prefer to use Sangiovese to produce our Rose, but last year Pioneer Hill just didn’t produce enough fruit for us to make both a red and rose wine. Wanting to continue to offer a Rose we looked to Primitivo and are delighted with the result. Aromas of strawberry and watermelon are paired with bright juicy flavors that are bone dry with a crisp finish that is free of any citrus rind pithiness. I am not a big fan of Rose, and it took Margie years to convince me to make one, but this is a wine I like. It is beautiful to look at, delightful to ponder in its fruit driven aromas and to savor its refreshing flavors.
2021 Verdelho – Produced from an uncommon variety (just 147 acres in the entire state) Verdelho hails from the Madeira Islands of Portugal. It produces a very distinctive wine with aromas of citrus, honeydew melon, and jasmine as if Sauvignon Blanc had been crossed with Riesling. It also has a rich creamy viscosity with just a hint of oak reminiscent of Chardonnay. For decades, Amador County vintners have searched for a white grape with character that can handle the warmth of the foothills and Verdelho just might be the ticket.
2021 Muscat Canelli – In the world of wine, Muscat Canelli was my first love; Asti Spumate and Louis Martini’s Muscato Amabile. I still enjoy returning to my youth and drinking a glass with bleu cheese and baguette as an appetizer or with an apple tart or baked pear for dessert. Some folks shy away from sweet wines, but this one is different. Crisp apple flavors and mild spritz prevents the wine from being cloying and the minuscule level of alcohol (7.0%) keeps it refreshing. It doesn’t get much better than a warm afternoon, an umbrellaed patio table, and a bottle of Muscat Canelli on ice.
2021 Viognier -We are careful not to let the alcohol play too big a role with this wine. It is not unusual for the alcohol content of Viognier to creep up into the 15-16% range, and at this level we find it makes the wine ponderous, oily, and in many cases coarse to the point of bitterness. Our Viognier from River Junction is rarely north of 14% and always delivers the wonderful varietal character of this grape; peaches apricots and a bit of gooseberry.
Club members, you can purchase the Spring fling four-pack and shipping anywhere in the US will be 5 cents…that’s right…$0.05! To take advantage of our “Spring Fling” deal, please email or call us: [email protected] or 209-245-6282 ext: 306, 305, or 303.
Cheers,
Jeff and Margie
