I confess to having looked at this bottle askance when an under-$20 blend from 2019 showed up after being awarded a Platinum Award, but this is still in great shape at this stage, and not just because of the preservative superiority of its screwcap closure by comparison to a cork. Blended from 53% Grenache Blanc, 18% Pinot Noir, 16% Gewürztraminer, 8% Viognier and 5% Sauvignon Blanc, this is a clever blend skillfully rendered. For example, the bouquet gains a lot of panache from the component of Gewürztraminer, but that notoriously low-acid variety is freshened by the dollop of Sauvignon Blanc. Tasting is believing.
Upshot, California (United States) 2019
By Michael Franz