Tried over the weekend:
1. SierraVista Viognier ElDorado (EB; 14.1%) 2008: Light yellow color; pleasant/simple light pear/Viog rather citric/grapefruity light earthy simple nose; very tart/acidic/lean/eviscerated light pear/Viog very citric/grapefruity slight metallic/minerally flavor; short/clipped acidic/thin/eviscerated very light pear/Viog steely/metallic finish; a lean/eviscerated rendition of Viog like many from the Pay d'Oc. $18.00
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2. WindGap TrousseauGris Fanucchi-WoodRdVnyd/RRV (195 cs; #534; 13.3%; www.WindGapWines.com; Frmtd in concrete eggs) 2009: Light yellow some cloudy color; attractive very perfumed/fragrant floral/carnations/honeydew melon/rather Riesling-like some spicy nose; tart bit waxy/figgy very floral/carnations/honeydew melon some earthy/minerally quite interesting flavor; very tart/lean/minerally floral/carnations/chalky/spicy/honeydew slight ginger ale finish; some like a SouthernGerman Riesling or Sylvaner, some like a fragrant/perfumed HunterVllySemillon; nothing profound but rather interesting to drink. $21.00
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3. SierraVista Grenache ElDorado (EB; 13.9%) 2008: Med.light color; pretty Grenache/strawberry rather meaty/bacon fat light earthy/garrigue nose; tart some bright/strawberry/Grenache rather earthy/mushroomy/ElDorado it SouthernRhone/spicy/garrigue flavor w/ light tannins; med.long light/bright/Grenache some earthy/mushroomy slight Rhonish finish w/ light tannins; bit rustic/earthy but interesting rendition of Grenache. $18.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. TrousseeauGris: This grape, a white mutant of the red Trousseau from Alsace, is found in France mostly in the Jura. It was once fairly widely planted in Calif where it was called GrayRiesling. The 10 acre block at Fanucchi is the largest remaining block in Calif. I remember drinking the PaulMasson or ChristianBros GreyRiesling way back when and finding it rather ordinary. Pax has done an interesting job w/ this wine.
Tom