2014 Central Coast white wine "Le Cigare Blanc", Bonny Doon
The NH state liquor store had this on sale for 1/2 price, so I grabbed the last bottle. Le Cigare Volant is Randall Grahm's blend of southern Rhone grapes. The name pokes fun at an ordinance that was passed in the 1950s flying saucer scare making it illegal for flying cigars (French for flying saucers) to land in the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Le Cigare Blanc is Grahm's knock-off on white CdP. The blend is 66% grenache blanc and 34% roussanne, and the wine was aged in French oak barrels. The wine is fragrant, with a distinct roussanne aroma profile and a hint of oak. It's nicely balanced on the palate, with the grace that is Grahm's hallmark. It does indeed taste like white CdP. Not a blockbuster, but very pleasant. Triple Larry.
-Paul W.