| This Month's
Wines....
Pinot Blanc (pee-no blahn)
by Sharon Rosenbaum, Senior Wine Buyer
This white wine grape produces high quality dry wines in
many of the world’s premium wine growing countries,
including France where it is used in such Burgundy wines as
Macon and Bourgogne Blanc. In Germany and Austria it is called
the Weissburgunder; in Italy it is known as the Pinot Bianco.
In California there are almost 1,700 acres planted, much of
which is used as the base for good quality sparkling wine,
while some is used for Chardonnay blends. Often compared to
the Chardonnay, the Pinot Blanc is the white grape cousin
of the noble Pinot Noir.
In many of California’s blind tastings, Pinot Blancs
have held their own against the more expensive Chardonnays.
This is possibly due to the more subdued style of winemaking
that seems to suit Pinot Blancs, as well as to the regular
use of the winemaking techniques used for high quality Chardonnays.
Compared to Chardonnays, yields are relatively high –
three to five tons of grapes per acre as opposed to one to
three tons – and sugar levels are somewhat lower. Pinot
Blanc wines are meant to be served chilled, though not too
cold, with delicate fish, shellfish dishes and other light-bodied
foods.
2000 Forest Knolls Monterey County
Forest Knolls Pinot Blanc was produced from grapes grown
in a small, 10-acre vineyard originally planted in 1975 with
cuttings from the famed Cobblestone Vineyard in Greenfield,
Monterey County. The soils in this valley canyon are deeper
and more gravelly than most of the area’s other vineyards
providing better drainage and exceptionally robust fruit.
The grapes were harvested in the cool, pre-dawn hours and
fermented in stainless steel tanks to retain all the fresh
fruit flavors and the naturally crisp acidity.
This wine displays lovely aromas and flavors of citrus,
pear and melon. The texture is smooth and the finish is long
and refreshing. Enjoy with picnic fare, especially a chicken,
seafood or fruit salad.
A delightful wine now, it will be thoroughly enjoyable over
the next 2 years.
2000 Talmadge Winery Monterey County
California’s most renowned Pinot Blanc vineyard sits
on 400 wooded acres in the lower Santa Lucia Mountain range
in Monterey County. The vineyard covers 250 acres of canyons
and benchlands. The grapes for this wine are from a plot located
in the southwest corner of the estate in a sheltered “L-shaped”
canyon which provides protection from the region’s high
winds.
The winemaker pressed the grapes at night and then fermented
them in stainless steel tanks. The wine has intense aromas
of spice and fruit. A crisp acidity balances nicely with the
abundant flavors of citrus, spicy apple and peaches.
Enjoy this delicious wine today and over the next year with
grilled firm-fleshed fish or asparagus with a citrus garlic
sauce. |
