WTN: 2015 Dirty and Rowdy Familiar Blanc

Dirty & Rowdy Family Winery 2015 California White Wine, "Familiar." A kitchen sink of Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Melon, Roussane, and Viognier. 11.5% ABV. A little cloudy. Unyielding, eventually giving up a little apple and stone fruit, but still keeping everything wrapped in a tight cover of minerals and acidity. More surly and sulky than anything else. I see in retrospect that they advise decanting these; I'll try one more this summer that way, but I'm sending the other two to bed for a year without any supper so they can think about what they've done, and decide whether they'd like to come out and play nice.

I love your tasting notes, Patchen!

[David M. Bueker]

So I had one of these a while back, and would not be shocked if it's shutting down. Their Semillon ran away and hid shortly after release.

Here's my note on the Familiar Blanc from right after release: It's great when a wine is both delicious and intellectually interesting, and that is the case with the Familiar Blanc. There is a yin-yang of richness and precision, likely from the unique blend of grapes, and the palate presence is outstanding, blending a lemon zest crispness with a wooly richness. I splashed a half cup into the pan for risotto and the aroma that came up was just to die for. Then the combination of the food with the wine was equally wonderful. It would not be hard to call a magnum of this as a single serving size.

Brian: Thanks!

David: Yes, it definitely gave the impression of shutting down: it had substance, but the substance just isn't letting any light escape at the moment. A black hole of a white wine, in other words, at least for now. But I really think it'll come around.