Summerland 2009 Grenache Paso Robles
This easy-sipping red is a very good choice whether you want to enjoy a glass of wine with your mate, or open something better than ordinary with dinner. I enjoyed its bright, clean notes of plums and blackberries uplifted by impressive blueberry notes. The ripe fruit is nicely offset by nuances of leather, earth, and spice. It’s not a huge red and that’s why I like it. Pair it with game like grilled quail or buffalo burgers. It’s also tasty with osso buco, or grilled tri-tip tacos. Available at the Summerwood tasting room, it’s $34 retail.
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Tangent 2012 Pinot Gris
This bright, refreshing white is a good choice for sipping outside on the patio on a warm, end-of-summer day. A lighter style with tangy notes of Fuji apple, nectarine, and lime, it’s a good choice with seafood: halibut, swordfish, prawns, or scallops in a citrusy sauce. A good buy at the tasting room on Orcutt Road, it’s $17 retail. This wine is also available by the keg when sold to local restaurants.
This article appears in Sep 19-26, 2013.