Marchelle, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Colombard 2022 ($33)

This stunning Colombard was the genesis behind the Marchelle brand, Greg La Follette’s latest winemaking label. The journey started when a friend asked Greg to resuscitate an abandoned vineyard of Colombard vines planted in 1902. Three years later, the vineyard was restored to a point where the Colombard could be harvested, and Greg made his first Marchelle wine. Colombard’s natural acidity makes this a bright and complex wine showing notes that recall vanilla, dried pineapple, dried mango, baked red apple, and lime zest. I have found Marchelle wines to be big, powerful, and well integrated. This one, even with less than 11% alcohol, delivers the goods.
96 Vince Simmon