Fumé Blanc has been a bright star in
Murphy-Goode's portfolio since their first
vintage in 1985. The Murphy family farm and
manage the fruit to develop tropical and
melon-like flavors rather than the green
herbaceousness often associated with the
variety. Superior fruit and minimal handling are
the keys to the success. This is a mouthful of
refreshing fruit flavors of citrus, nectarines
and white peaches with an aromatic of
lemongrass. A blending component of Sauvignon
Musqué adds hints of floral and rounds the
wine's texture. A vibrant wine, the Fumé Blanc
is mostly stainless steel tank fermented to
promote the varietal flavors that each vintage
offers from the vineyard. A small portion of the
blend is barrel fermented in neutral small oak
cooperage to increase the texture of the final
wine without adding oak flavors or aromas.
From the Grape Vine
-- September 8, 2008
This week Mission Wine & Spirits highlights the
2005 Las Rocas Garnacha. The unoaked 2005 Las
Rocas Garnacha is sourced from low yielding
vineyards ranging in age from 70-100 years. It
gives up attractive aromas of kirsch,
raspberries, pepper, and damp earth. This is
followed by a broad, full-flavored wine with a
supple texture and no hard edges. This Garnacha
is a special project of importer Eric Solomon,
who discovered these ancient high altitude
Grenache vineyards and brand named the wine Las
Rocas. More aromatic than its sibling, it has a
splendid perfume of spice box, lavender, kirsch,
and blueberry.
Customer's Favorite
-- September 1, 2008
Customer Dick Frohman recommends the 2006 Mason
Cellars Sauvignon Blanc from Mason Cellars, a
family owned and operated winery, founded in
l993 by winemaker Randy Mason and his wife,
Megan in Oakville, California. The Sauvignon
Blanc is the signature wine of Mason Cellars who
have long been recognized by the wine industry
as being one of the best sauvignon producers in
the country. It has a lovely grapefruit nose,
hinting at citrus and fig nuances. Wonderfully
full and round in the mouth with crispness,
great acidity and good balance, this wine is
loaded with mouthwatering flavors. Because of
its fine balance, this wine is excellent with a
wide variety of foods, ranging from spicy Asian
to seafood and pasta or just to sip by itself.
Customer's Favorite
-- August 25, 2008
Customer Raoul Delgado recommends the Pinot Noir
2007 from Mandolin Winery in Monterey County.
The grapes for this Pinot Noir were sourced from
vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA where
high winds, dry days, and bay fogs create a
cool, but very long, growing season. These
growing conditions are ideal for cool-climate
grapes such as Pinot Noir, producing
full-forward fruit flavors and ideal acidity.
It’s infused with cherry candy and raspberry
flavors that jump right out in the mouth and as
it lingers in the glass, other red fruits and
even leather and spice notes are revealed.
Customer's Favorite
-- August 18, 2008
Customer Bob Mattice recommends the Bennett
Family R.R.V. The Reserve Chardonnay 2006 as a
pleasant, summery chardonnay with a light use of
oak and aromas of lemon, golden delicious apple,
and vanilla. Sourced from several vineyards in
the Russian River Valley, this wine from an
excellent 2005 vintage delivers way beyond the
price. If you’re not seduced by the bouquet of
pineapple and buttered brioche, Chardonnay
lovers will find irresistible the ensuing layers
of ripe apple and mango, the subtle note of
rosemary, and the long mineral-laden finish.
Customer's Favorite
-- August 11, 2008
Customer Robin Pender recommends the Pine
Ridge 2007 Chenin Blanc-Viognier for a light
summer wine, perfect for entertaining around the
pool. Floral and sweet on the nose, the Viognier
exhibits fragrant aromas of pear, lychee and
melon, with a delicate touch of grapefruit, lime
and mixed citrus. Sweet, bright flavors of
lively citrus and pear are offered up along with
a supple texture. The slightly off-dry finish is
clean and crisp, marked with notes of red
grapefruit. The fruity floral signature of
Chenin Blanc and the fragrant bouquet of
Viognier make up this unique bottling. Pine
Ridge was the first California winery to develop
this original blend.
Customer's Favorite
-- August 4, 2008
Customer Karol Ter-Mirzoyan discovered a
great white from Paso Robles French Camp
Vineyard, the Barrel 27 High On The Hog 2007,
one of the best on the central coast. The blend
of 42% Viognier, 34% Roussanne, and 24% Marsanne
is straw gold / brass in color with an intense,
sumptuous nose of honeycomb, Meyer lemon zest,
marzipan, lemongrass and wet slate, and
secondary notes of jasmine, Kaffir lime, petrol,
paraffin, and bacon fat. On the palate, the wine
is lush and weighty, dominated by flavors of
lemon drops, slate, petrol and honey, followed
with hints of lavender, cured ham and mint
intermingled and integrated through the long,
up-lifted finish.
Customer's Favorite
-- July 28, 2008
Customer Mark Zens has a timely
recommendation for this week with one of his new
favorites, Earthquake Zin 2003 from Michael-
David Winery in Lodi. The luscious Zinfandel
fruit awakens the nose with dried plum and deep
chocolate and, according to Mark, your taste
buds will be in upheaval over the suede-like
tannins churning together with vanilla and
toasted raspberry cobbler. Over the top and
shattering to the veins, all varietals under the
Earthquake label are Michael and David’s reserve
level wines. These wines possess major
concentration and daring flavor with only a
limited production offered each year. The 2003
Earthquake Zinfandel was named “Best High-End
Wine of Show” at the 2008 Orange County Fair.
Customer's Favorite
-- July 14, 2008
Customer Rudi Riegler chose Zardetto
Prosecco Brut Sparkling Wine for his favorite
sparkler at a great price. Crystal clear with a
hearty white froth and a fine perlage, Zardetto
Prosecco offers fresh, fragrant aromas of peach,
citrus and tropical fruits. Delicately soft and
harmonious on the palate, Zardetto Prosecco is
extremely versatile and can be enjoyed anytime,
from important celebrations to last-minutes
parties. Zesty and stylish, Zardetto Prosecco is
the quintessential sparkling aperitif, and can
be served alongside a wide array of foods.
Customer's Favorite
-- July 7, 2008
Customer Donna Aguirre chose BEX Riesling 06
from Germany’s Mosel River Region for a light
evening wine as the temperature rises this time
of the year. Donna loves the aroma of citrus,
honeysuckle and orange blossom and the flavors
of green apples, nectarine and dried apricot
make for a perfect summertime wine. You can
enjoy this wine chilled in a nice glass and the
clean bright wine has a slight spritz to make it
even more interesting.
Customer’s
Favorite -- June 30, 2008
Customer Shari Palicke says this wine is like a trip
to the county fair with aromas of fresh-baked cherry
pie, tree-ripe plums and a hint of chocolate
soufflé, with a mouthful of rich berry fruit and
toasty oak that washes over your palate. Red Truck
Wines deliver a smooth ride of big-hearted, bright,
juicy flavor. The idea for Red Truck Wines began
when Fred and Nancy Cline of Sonoma, California's
Cline Cellars fell in love with a painting of a
classic, old red truck, purchasing it at an auction
benefiting the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.
Customer’s
Favorite -- June 23, 2008
With the recent warm weather, Customer Merci Ruiz
recommends the Raffault Chinon 2006 Rose. Raffault’s
unique Chinon Rose is made by the saigne method, and
is a very versatile wine that drinks well on its
own. The Rose shows bright and lively strawberry
fruit with a long, succulent finish. This rich Rose
is issued from 100% Cabernet Franc. The richness of
fruit and acidity is perfectly balanced by a slight
degree of residual sugar. Merci is planning on
sipping this great Rose with a summer night dinner
featuring a light salad with goat cheese and a nice
white fish.
Customer’s
Favorite -- June 16, 2008
Customer Jim Weiss recommends the Benziger Family
Winery Sauvignon Blanc North Coast 2006 for a
true-to-varietal, crisp, fresh, bright, fruity
Sauvignon Blanc with a subtle grassiness and clean
finish. Stainless steel fermentation gives this wine
a delicious crisp, cleanness that enhances its
citrus flavors and floral aromas. The generous fruit
is supported by the acidic structure and the
impressive mouthfeel. The brightness of the wine is
revealed in every sip. Jim is planning on enjoying
this great Sauvignon Blanc with white fish, summer
salads or fresh fruit.
Customer’s
Favorite -- June 9, 2008
Customer Javier Salcido recommends Colosi Rosso
2005. “It has a somewhat closed nose at first, but
if you give it time it will eventually produce
aromas of cherry, sour cranberry and a touch of
plum,” noted Javier, who enjoyed the mouth with a
ripe, fresh, open fruit flavor, along with a jammy
red raspberry, black raspberry, plum and
pomegranate. The Colosi Rosso comes from Sicily’s
inland southwestern vineyards and is made 100
percent from of one of the oldest and most popular
grapes on the island. It displays good depth, with
mild hints of earth and tar and offers a smooth
texture with medium tannins.
Customer’s
Favorite -- June 2, 2008
Customer Jim Stahl recommends the 2006 Decoy Napa
Valley Red Wine that he tasted at last month’s
Duckhorn Vineyards tasting at Mission Wine &
Spirits. “It had such a nice complex feeling in my
mouth, and it felt like much more expensive
Bordeaux,” exclaimed Jim. This inviting wine is
well-rounded with forward fruit balanced by smooth,
supple tannins and a lingering finish. The aroma is
approachable with black cherry, ripe berry, and
floral notes of violet and rose petal. The flavors
are ripe with fresh fruit including blackberry,
black cherry, and cassis complemented by a spicy
note of white pepper.
Customer's Favorite-- May 27, 2008
Customer Dave Lopez recommends the 2006 Naia
Verdejo for the bright lemon color and the
aroma of lanolin, vanilla biscuits, lemon curd and
minerals. The chalky minerality frames a myriad of
citrus flavors. The grapes for this wine come from
98.8 acres of vineyards, of which 94 acres are 26
years old and 4.8 acres are ungrafted 90-year-old
Verdejo vines. All the vineyards are located in the
town of La Seca, which is considered by the locals
to be the “grand cru” village of Rueda. Since the
Middle Ages Verdejo has been the traditional
varietal on the left bank of the Duero River.
Customer's Favorite -- May
19, 2008
2006 Martin Codax Albarino Customer Jessica
Calderon recommends the 2006 Martin Codax Albarino
for something a little different than a Chardonnay.
The Albarino is the white grape variety of note from
Spain with a style similar to Viognier. The Martin
Codax is refreshing and stimulatingly complex at the
same time. The wine is a clear,
light lemon color with a delicate
yet forceful peachy aroma on the
nose and the palate.
Customer's Favorite -- May 14,
2008
Customer Alan Sutovsky recommends Parcel 41
as one of his favorite merlots, full
bodied and hearty with a wonderful
central coast taste. Parcel 41
delivers exceptional value, a Merlot
that is supple and elegant yet still
has the structure, depth and
richness you find in more expensive
offerings.
