2021 Neal Family Vineyards Vermentino Rutherford Dust Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$38.00USD

What a beautiful take on Vermentino.  Decidedly California in style, but the wine bears some resemblance to the classic Italian versions.  Light golden in color with some green hues.  Medium bodied.  The nose has a bit of citrus (tangerine) along with slight guava notes.  Slightly viscous.  Excellent cut.  On the palate, more lemon than tangerine with nice underlying minerality.  Lively acidity but no sharp edges makes this very easy to drink.  The acidity and minerality set this apart from so many Napa whites.  Nice finish.  Consumed over two nights, this was even better on night 2.  This

2017 Vigneti Zanatta Vermentino di Sardegna Orion, Italy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is an inexpensive easy white from Sardinia.  Light gold/green in color.  The nose is more about minerals and smoke but there is some lime.  On the palate, this has a nice, slightly oily texture.  Nice mineral drive lime with good acidity.  Nice finish.  This makes easy drinking on its own but also works well with light foods.  A nice party wine.  

2017 Cascina Praie Vermentino Colla Micheri, Italy, Liguria

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B

Light golden in color with slight green swirls.  The nose has some lime and pears and also some minerals.  On the palate, this is a nice, slightly oily texture.  Minerals.  Lighter in body.  Very easy drinking.  No bitterness.  Ligurian wines are not that common in the US.  Retails for $24.  

2016 Denner Theresa, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

One of the great white Rhone wines from California.  50% Roussanne, 20% Grenache Blanc, 10% Vermentino, 10% Picpoul, 10% Marsanne.  Green gold in color.  The nose has slight limes with some citrus and slight wax.  On the palate, this has a wonderful plush texture with great crispness on the wine.  Deep and complex despite its youth, it unwinds in the glass.  Slightly oily.  Long finish.  Works with or without foods.  This will likely age well, but is so good now, I don't think it gets better, just different.  

2017 Vigneti Zanatta Vermentino di Sardegna Orion, Italy, Sardinia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Light green gold in color.  The nose has minerals and limes.  On the palate, a wet rock quality.  Good acidity.  Oily texture.  Very food friendly for lighter/medium weight foods.  Nice finish.  This retails for around $17 and is a very nice value.  While it might drink well for a few years though, the freshness will probably disappear by next summer, so I would drink soon.  This would be great for fall clambakes!

2015 Denner Theresa, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

30% Rousanne, 25% Marsanne, 20% Grenache Blanc, 15% Picpoul, and 10% Vermentino.  This is one of my favorite (mostly) Rhone white wines from Paso Robles.  Light golden in color.  The nose is really nice with peaches, slight canned peaches, a nice minerals streak, some vanilla candle and some lemon peel.  On the palate, this has a great oily texture.  Slightly viscous.  An excellent crispness.  Depth and complexity.  Do not serve this too cold as the complexity really comes out when the wine starts to get over 60F.  Peaches, lemons, and minerals.  Long finish.  Great with food.  

Sixty White Wines Recommendations for Autumn

Autumn is here and for most of us, that means shifting from the lighter summer rosés, whites and BBQ Reds into something that matches with heartier food or sitting by the fire on a chilly fall evening. At every party though there is someone who says they only drink white wine. Sometimes he or she means sweet, but often dry wines work too. Just like red wines, however, there are white wines that work great for the autumn season too.

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