WTN: '06 Callaghan Vineyards "Lisa's"

Not just a wine from Arizona, but a white wine, no less. I don't know what's in it (it changes every year) but the '08 has viognier, marsanne, roussane, malvasia, and riesling if that helps. Comes in at 14% alcohol. Screw-capped.

Color is deep lemon yellow. I get scents of honey, hazelnut, lemon oil, and something like rain water. Flavors are big and intense, with more of that hazelnut and citrus oil. It's not at all flabby, though, with bracing acidity that lets it finish crisp although the nuttiness lingers. Carries that 14% alcohol very well.

This is drinking very nicely right now. A good example of a big white that's not at all ponderous or dull. It went beautifully with penne in a sauce of smoked salmon, capers, peas, and cream.

Good timing, Mike. I've been looking for drinkable local wines and I've heard good things about Callaghan. Sounds like it's worth a shot.

I would definitely give his stuff a try, Bill. We've toured around the Sonoita region quite a bit (my folks lived out there until recently) and Kent's wines are the class of the area. I don't know that he's ever put out a wine with <14% alcohol, but they generally hold their levels really well and are very tasty wines.

If you get down that way, definitely stop in. Kent loves to talk wine with people who know more than the average tourist.