Tuesday, November 20, 2007

I've got my Thanksgiving white; a baby Gravner in Oregon

I hope that you enjoy the WSJ style headline; complete sentence followed by a clarifying simple phrase. Anyway, I am very excited about the 2004 Francis Tannahill 'Jack' white wine. With a 37 case production I do not think it is an easy get, but definitely buy it if you see it. Provided that you are into interesting white wines, of course.

Jack is a blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay grown just 16 miles north of California. The 6 month long skin contact and maceration is exactly how long Josko does his, I believe. Except there are no use of amphorae for Tannahill's white. After the extended maceration the wine is put into old oak barrels for 16 months. The resulting wine is a beautiful color, somewhere between gold and pink gold. Strong apricot, floral and orange peel notes lead to complex flavors: apricot jam, flowers, roasted nuts. Not as complex, tannic or compelling as the '01 Gravner Ribolla I tasted about a year ago, but for $20 Jack is an exceedingly interesting, well-made, food friendly white wine. Wines like this are reason for measured optimism on the state of domestic winemaking.