April Fool’s Day – Screwtops & Sauvignon Blanc No Joke
Screwtops owe their success to early adopters and proponents at Australian winery Yalumba, among others. Sauvignon Blanc owes a debt of gratitude to New Zealand which rescued the grape from blended obscurity in white Bordeaux and Sauternes and set a worldwide standard that spurred California to rethink their oak-laden pseudo-Chardonnay treatment of the grape. Those historical events came together in a bottle of Whitehall Lane Winery & Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Napa Valley to start another historic event – Tony’s birthday!
Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect choice for summer drinking as it is crisp, light, and refreshing. Typically not aged, our bottle of 2009 could be considered “old” by Sauvignon Blanc standards which might seem a subtle joke considering the occasion.
To me, this a “deck wine” – perfect for drinking while sitting outside in the all too brief Midwestern summer. It drinks well alone and pairs well with summer food choices. If you are trying to pair Sauvignon Blanc, think white wine = white meat, such as shellfish, fish, chicken. The label or menu description will likely emphasize “herbaceous” or “grassy” so try spring salads with a vinaigrette dressing. A plate of mildly acidic cheeses – Chevre, Feta, Pecorino with olives or roasted bell peppers would be lovely combination. Tony chose this “Miss Congeniality” of a wine because the table ordered everything from fish to flank steak and it paired adequately to well with all entrees.
Whitehall Lane Winery www.whitehalllane.com meets my specs – small, family-owned, a winemaker that is promoted on their website, and a label that says “produced and bottled by.” They actually own several vineyards making it possible to bottle Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Reserve wines. And for those who follow ratings, Whitehall Lane has been honored by Wine Spectator for producing wines rated among the top five in the world.
This was the first time anyone in the group had been to Eddie Merlot’s, a local and now regional steakhouse. Claiming to appeal to women, baby boomers, younger diners in their 30s, and wine-by-the-glass fans, its food prices alone set it apart from what this wine-by-the-glass-loving-baby-boomer-woman is willing to pay outside of special occasions. Our wine on www.tastingroom.com is $17.99; at Eddie Merlot’s $42 but that’s not surprising as many restaurants do a 300% markup. Overall impression on a Sunday night – Eddie Merlot’s is a trophy wife, beautiful but neglected.
Meet the Winemaker:
Winemaker- Dean Sylvester
Dean is a detail-oriented winemaker who works closely with his crew in the cellar, while keeping a watchful eye on the development of the grapes in the vineyard. He is responsible for all winemaking as well as overseeing the 110 acres of vineyards that Whitehall Lane owns and all vineyards held under contract. He has been making wine in the Napa Valley for more than 30 years, the last 12 at Whitehall Lane. He combines the experience of working with both European and American winemakers, allowing him to marry classic old-world style with modern winemaking techniques. Dean was born and raised just outside of Rochester, New York. He escaped the East to pursue a career in winemaking and enrolled at U.C. Davis. He majored in Fermentation Science and began gaining practical winemaking experience in Santa Cruz and Sonoma before spending 10 years as an assistant winemaker at Newton Vineyards in St. Helena. He has also worked at Chimney Rock Winery in Napa and Mario Perelli- Minetti Winery in St. Helena. Dean is responsible for making three wines rated among the top five in the World from The Wine Spectator Magazine. His focus and attention were apparent in those wines and all of the wines he makes at Whitehall Lane Winery.
