I’ve always enjoyed the wines from this reliable producer in Sonoma County. But with this vintage, I was bowled over by this delightful white. It’s highly aromatic with bright, irresistible flavors of melon, pink grapefruit, and kiwi, weaved with a thread of minerality. Grown in vineyards in Alexander and Russian River valleys, this wine drinks beautifully now, and it will age gracefully for two or three years. Awesome on its own, it’s also a great choice for wild-mushroom-and-goat-cheese pasta or panini, or risotto with lemon-flavored prawns. I love this variety with Mexican or Southwestern dishes, too. It’s fabulous and only $13.50 retail, available at rodneystrong.com or wine.com.
This article appears in Jul 1-8, 2010.