This white is pure Edna Valley in its zingy, crisp style, and an excellent rendition of this classic Spanish varietal. Aromas of grapefruit, minerals, and floral notes are seductive, leading to a fuller mouthfeel than you’d expect that hints of fresh Mandarin orange. It’s a good choice for spicy dishes like pad Thai, curried chicken or squid, chile crusted calamari, and a natural with Spanish tapas or shrimp and sausage paella. Winemaker Christian Roguenant explained: “This vintage of Albarino is again much like one from its homeland in Spain.” A good buy at $17 retail, it’s available at Baileyana/Tangent’s old schoolhouse tasting room in Edna Valley on Orcutt Road.
This article appears in Apr 21-28, 2011.