Pinot Blanc

This second vintage of Lucy’s Pico Blanco from Monterey County continues its impressive winemaking style. Comprised of 85% Pinot Gris and 15% Pinot Blanc, this is both elegant and exciting; an enticing white wine for people who don’t like white wines. It offers crisp acidity, fresh flavors of lemon zest, lime kefir, quince, white peach and Asian pear, lithe honeysuckle, fresh baked bread, light resin and a stony minerality. The Lucy label is from the Pisoni brothers and the Pisoni family has been producing wine from Monterey since the early 1970s.

It’s not often you’ll find a white wine, especially a Pinot Blanc on shelves with this much age on it. But in the capable hands of the Böcking team, this is a great find. The vineyards are located in the middle of the Mosel. This offers crisp and clean summer citrus fruits with just a hint of sweetness, making this a delightful addition to your white wine roster. The mild notes of lemon verbena, lime kefir, Asian peach, and Bartlett pear are properly supported by a driving acidity and slight minerality.

The name Pisoni is well known in the Monterey area and the Lucy label is of part of brothers Jeff and Mark Pisoni’s wide variety of offerings. A blend of 70% pinot gris and 30% pinot blanc, the result is a sum that is far greater than its parts. Wonderfully crisp and flavorful this offers muted notes of lemon-lime, guava, resin, red delicious apple, and nectarine. There’s an ever so slight tartness on the tongue, solid acidity and a uniqueness that just might make this your new go-to white. Native yeast fermentation leads to aging in neutral barrels for a lithe viscosity.

Light golden in color.  The nose has a crushed shell aspect to it along with some slight lemon peel.  Interesting.  On the palate, this is light bodied and a bit thin.  It has a tart lemon candy aspect.  A bit sweet and a bit sour.  Short finish.  It is solid and fairly priced.  It will work with lighter foods and salads.  Tasted as apart of my tasting group's exploration of this area, in general, the group liked this one a bit more than I did.  

This was interesting and unique.  It has a deep golden/orange hue to it.  I wondered if it was oxidized, but got no hint of that.  Perhaps they left the juice in contact with the red grape skins.  It is made from six varietals; Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Arbane which is how Champagne was traditionally made in the 1800's.  The nose is tight and never offered up a lot.  Some baked apples, a bit of yeast.  The palate, however, was explosive.  It is slightly sweet and I was surprised to see the label said Brut.  Mandarin oranges with a bit of ginger. 

Produced at Cave Vinicole de Kientzheim-Kaysersberg.    The nose has minerals and slight peaches.  On the palate, there are more peaches but underlying minerality.  Slightly oily texture.  Nice acidity.  Will work with lighter and medium bodied foods and on its own.  Retails for $17 which is a nice value.  

Light golden in color.  The nose is mild with pears and melons.  On the palate, there is a slight diesel note but also some slight fruit.  It has a round texture, but lacks much acidity or intensity.  It is enjoyable, but leaves one wanting for a bit more.  Some of that is the varietal but still.  $19 retail.  A very solid wine.  Drink now this may have been better a year ago.  

10% Gewurztraminer, 30% Pinot Blanc, 30% Pinot Gris, 30% Riesling.  This is made in the traditional method.  It does not appear to be labelled as Cremant.  Light silvery/yellow/white/gold in color.  Very pale.  A nice head of medium sized bubbles.  The nose is nice with a bit of seltzer and slight lemon.  On the palate, this has slight lime peel with some juniper berry (Gin) and other herbals.  Not a lot of depth but very refreshing.  Slightly short on the finish.  This is easy drinking sparkling wine.  Dry and very food friendly.  At $16, this is a nice value.  

Kind of cool drinking a wine from Texas.  Light golden in color.  The nose has a bit of a sweet scent to it along with minerals and slight petrol.  At first I thought it was a Riesling.  On the palate, this is sweet.  A bit disjointed but not bad.  It is sweet with some minerals and a candied lemon note to it.  Worked pretty well with a salad.  I believe it cost around $20 which is fine for a fun wine and something different.  While I am not familiar with this winery or wine, I suspect it was better a year or two ago.  

Light golden in color.  On the nose, this has nice red apples and slight peach.  Medium bodied.  Slightly sweet.  It has a nice minerality with a touch of apples on the palate.  Clen finish.