Restaurant Wine by Ronn Wiegand
The new issue of Restaurant Wine by Ronn Wiegand just came out and a number of SIP Certified wines did extremely well.
TRUE MYTH, 2016 CHARDONNAY PARAGON VINEYARD, EDNA VALLEY, $152 ($19) ★★★★
Screw cap. Very ripely flavored, this is a full bodied lightly oaky Chardonnay of excellent quality. It is smoothly textured, balanced, and lingering on the finish. In aroma/flavor, it tastes of pineapple, lime, candied lemon, peach, truffle, and spicy oak. Aged 9 months in French oak barrels, including 40% new French. Clones: Dijon 76, 4, 17 & Tepesquet. 14.5% [2019-2020] 805.544.9080
OPOLO VINEYARDS, 2017 ROUSSANNE, CENTRAL COAST, ROUSANNE $216 ($27) ★★★★
Fine quality, this Roussanne is a supple, very fruity wine with full body, good balance, and a lingering finish, tasting of pear, white peach, pineapple, lime, and honeysuckle. Great value. Unwooded. 400 cases. 13.5% [2019-2020] 805.466.2288
TANGENT, 2016 ALBARINO, EDNA VALLEY, $136 ($17) ★★★★
Screw cap. Crisp and delicately flavored, this is a full bodied, balanced Albarino with pear, tangerine, white peach, pineapple, and lime aromas/flavors, and a medium long finish. Excellent value. 28 day cold fermentation. 3,100 cases 13.5% [2019-2020] 805.597.8200
CENTER OF EFFORT, 2016 PINOT NOIR ‘EFFORT’, EDNA VALLEY, $256 ($32) ★★★★
A medium rich, ripely flavored Pinot Noir that is full bodied, lightly tannic, and long on the finish, tasting of plum, cherry, cedar, spicy oak, and vanilla. A fuller style. Can be aged a bit. 15% whole cluster. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 30% new. Clones: 828, 667, 777, 115, 23, 2A. 1,201 cases. 13.6% [2021-2022] 805.782.9463
RIVERBENCH, 2016 PINOT NOIRESTATE GROWN, SANTA MARIA VALLEY, $256 ($32) ★★★★+
An elegant, supple Pinot Noir of excellent quality. It is velvety in texture, finely flavored (cherry, strawberry jam, red currant, clove, spicy oak), well balanced, and persistent on the finish. Drinks well now, but can age further. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 40% new. Clones: 115, 667, 777, Martini, Pommard. 686 cases. 14.2% [2020-2022] 805.937.834
HALTER RANCH, 2016 ‘ANCESTOR ESTATE RESERVE’, ADELAIDA DISTRICT, PASO ROBLES, $440 ($55) ★★★+
Full bodied and fleshy in texture, this is a very good Cabernet blend, with excellent depth of fruit (blackberry, red licorice, cassis, plum), layers of oak character (toast, vanilla, cedar, tobacco), and a long, mildly tannic finish. Warrants several more years of bottle aging. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot, 11% Malbec. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. 3,300 cases. 14.6% [2023-2028] 805.226.9455
TANGENT, 2016 SAUVIGNON BLANC PARAGON VINEYARD, EDNA VALLEY, $136 ($17) ★★★+
Screw cap. A crisp Sauvignon, with vibrant herbal, fruity aromas/flavors (apple, pear, sweet pepper, green leaf, dried fig, grapefruit), and a medium long finish. Very good value. 8 hour cold soak. Unwooded. 14,157 cases. 13.5% [2019-2020] 805.597.8200
RIVERBENCH, 2016 CHARDONNAY ESTATE GROWN, HHHHH SANTA MARIA VALLEY, $224 ($28) ★★★★★
Very fine Chardonnay: full bodied and both elegant and complex in style. It is supple in texture, well balanced, moderately intense in flavor (pineapple, honey, candied lemon, peach, lime, vanilla, creme brulee), and long on the finish. Will develop with modest aging. A great value. Aged 9 months in French oak barrels, 40% new. ML. 418 cases. 14.2% [2020-2022] 805.937.8340