Yes Virginia, there are wines made in Arizona. In fact the quality of the Arizona wines and the number of good producers has led some area restaurants to feature a good percentage of Arizona wine on their wine lists. In fact one restaurant - FnB in Scottsdale features almost exclusively Arizona wines. Another restaurant - perhaps the most famous one in Phoenix - Pizzeria Bianco features quite a few Arizona wines on their list. When going to Pizzeria Bianco you are guaranteed two things - amazing pizza and a wait, so after we met up with family visiting from California, we checked in and headed next door to Bar Bianco (hey at least they give you a place to wait in style!). Since temps are already hovering around 90 degrees in the 'hood, the choice was a white - an intriguing "kitchen sink" blend of lots of varietals, in fact all the varietals the winery grows are represented. The largest percent in the blend is Picpoul Blanc, a Rhone varietal that I have only read about - but not before seen featured in a wine.
Wine: 2012 Dos Cabezas Wineworks Meskeoli
Region: Cochise County, Arizona
Grape Varieties: Picpoul Blanc (29%), Viognier (26%), Riesling (19%), Roussanne (13%), Albariño (5%), Muscat (4%), Malvasia (4%)
Grape Varieties: Picpoul Blanc (29%), Viognier (26%), Riesling (19%), Roussanne (13%), Albariño (5%), Muscat (4%), Malvasia (4%)
Obtained from: Purchased at Bar Bianco, Phoenix, AZ
Price: $28 Retail, $45 at the Restaurant
Wino4Life Category: Weekend Wine
Aeration before tasting: Just a swirl or two, no special aeration.
Cork Condition: Screw Top - no defects or issues.
Appearance: Wine is clear, light yellow in color with a water white rim.
Aroma: Very powerful, and initially very floral - likely from the Viognier. Also, nice notes of citrus and apples make themselves known after the initial hit of flowers subsides.
The Grade: I give this one a B+. Definitely a tasty wine with more grape varieties than you can count on one hand. Great aromas, and a nice fruity finish. Although the finish was a bit too sweet for my personal preference, this wine would be a great pairing with spicy Thai or Mexican fare. The only issue I have is the price (even considering retail) - a bit spendy for a fruit forward, slightly sweet white. Please support Arizona winemaking and give this one a try if you like the style and run across it, but for me there are some better priced options out there.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please join the conversation! Questions, comments, suggestions - I want it all!!