Malvasia

For 35 years Soliloquy has been the flagship white wine from Flora Springs in Napa. The wine bursts with grapefruit, lemon, lime kefir, lychee, and back notes of resin, white peach, Asian pear and mango. The acidity holds the wine and fruit in check while allowing it to be a companion with a diversity of food. It’s comprised of 73% Sauvignon Blanc, 12% Chardonnay and 15% Malvasia and a brief seven months of aging in French oak rounds it out. This is a consistently solid wine and year after year is worth seeking out. 605 cases. ORIGIN: Napa Valley. ALCOHOL: 14.2%

This is an interesting white from central Italy.  Golden in color, slightly deep, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with apricots and slight honey note.  Medium bodied.  Oily texture.  Dry on the palate with good acidity.  On the palate, guava with almonds and slight lime.  Some depth and complexity.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It would go nicely with a plate of Proscutto di Parma.  Drink over the next few years.  

What a treat.  This is 122 years from vintage.  McKinley was president when the grapes were grown.  The color of dark iced tea, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has Tootsie-Rolls, toffee, orange marmalade and slight bitters.  Full bodied.  Vibrant acidity.  Fresh and delicious.  On the palate, toffee, orange peel, slight coffee and slight alcohol heat.  Long, long finish.  Complex.  A contemplative experience for sure.  This could likely go another 100 years.  While it would work with a less sweet dessert, this probably is best consumed on its own to really appreciate.  

This is Malvasia variety that is unique to the Istrian Peninsula from Croatia.  These grapes are grown according to biodynamic principals.  The grapes are then allowed to soak with their skins on for seven to twenty days in large wooden barrels.  Fermentation is done thru indigenous yeasts.  The wines are then aged  in large oak barrels before being released.  A very interesting wine (and good, too!).  Deep golden in color, clear and bright.  And, yes, this is an orange or macerated wine although it doesn't appear that it is taken to the extremes of some.  Very clean.  The nose is nice with

From the Istrian peninsula in northwest Croatia.  This is 100% Malvasia Istarska which is a unique member of the Malvasia family.  The grapes are grown in red clay and limestone soils about 10 miles from the sea.  The wine see no oak.  It is fermented on its lees using stainless steel tanks.  Apparently, they ferment in four separate batches using four different strains of yeasts.  13% abv.  The wine is light in color with a coppery/silver/gold hue to it.  The nose is mild but persistent with minerals, slight limes, and slight fresh dill.  On the palate, this is light to medium bodied with

This is a late harvest syled dessert wine from Arizona.  Light golden in color.  There is a lot of volatile acidity on the nose, but with air, some/most of it blows off.  There is some honey and white raisins on the nose. On the palate this is viscous.  Slightly sweet though not cloying.  It lacks some much needed acidity.  The honey comes thru to the palate, along with slight peach.  Shorter finish. It worked with a not too sweet carrot cake.  It should last for five to ten more years although the VA is a bit worrying.  

This is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (44%), Chardonnay (41%), Malvasia (10%), and Pinot Gris(5%).  The name comes from a proprietary clone of Sauvignon Blanc that Flora Springs utilizes in the Crossroads vineyard.   It is an interesting white that really needs some air when opening.  Silvery/green in color with pale yellow/gold.  On opening the oak is dominant and that did not work well.  Of course, this is just being released and that will cure itself.  In any event, patience is rewarded.  After about an hour of breathing the tropical fruit came out.  A slight bit of grassiness, in a good wa

This is a blend of 90% Negro Amaro and 10% Malvasia from Puglia, Italy.  It sells for $12 which is a great value.  Ruby in color although deeper purple at the core.  The nose has black cherries, with a nice earthy merde quality to it.  On the palate, this is cleaner with nice black cherry fruit.  Slightly bitter on the finish, this really needs some food.  Medium tannins.  It should be good for another few years at least.  Tasty wine that will be good for summer barbecues and casual evenings.  

Deep golden in color.  The nose is hot with a nutty note and slight dried honey.  On the palate, there is a ton of alcohol showing.  Slightly viscous.  Barely sweet.  Some nuttiness.  On the finish, the alcohol vapors continue.  The label says 19% and it was every bit of that.  Not sure where it goes from here.  It seemed surprising it was not labeled liquoroso.  When slowly sipped it offered some warmth and enjoyment but it is not a wine for the dinner table.