Having just shaken off the last chill in the Texas air, the luscious state flower of Texas is peeking out. This is spring in Texas. And what better way to drink in the deep bue vistas than with some lovely white wine? Try these four offerings from Balletto Vineyards – each are satisfying and delightful. See you in the flowers!
Balletto Vineyards is one of the few family-owned estate wineries in Sonoma County. They farm 16 estate vineyards in the Russian River Valley AVA, with a specialty in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, made with fruit grown on land the family has farmed since the 1970s. Their estate vineyards are located in the southeastern region of Russian River Valley, where the ebb and flow of the Pacific Ocean fog provides the cool climate in which pinot noir and chardonnay grapes thrive.
2019 Sauvignon Blanc ($20)
A dry, crisp and lovely expression of Sauvignon blanc. The wine is understated and elegant with a driving acidity that’s quenched by a generous and surprisingly lush mid-palate that brings a tense, perfect balance to this wine. The aromas are graceful with a combination of limy tropical fruit and a touch of classic Sauvignon blanc earthiness. It’s bright and savory, tart and lush all in the same package. The wine is completely dry with zero residual sugar to hide behind. It’s a pure example of how good Sauvignon blanc can be.
2019 Pinot Gris ($20)
Texture and persistence define this top-tier Pinot Gris. It's focused with crisp acidity and yet still maintains a powerful weight and presence throughout. Simply delightful. Aromatically, the wine opens with citrus and delicate slate aromas followed with darker, savory elements. The mouthfeel is a contrast of zingy lime, perfect viscosity and subtle tannins that add texture and extend the wine through an incredible and lengthy finish with both texture and flavor.
2019 Chardonnay - Teresa's Unoaked ($20)
The 2019 Teresa's continues to define California's Unoaked Chardonnay category. Crisp and vibrant, yet amazingly luscious: it showcases how chardonnay does not need flashy oak or malolactic fermentation to be distinct and delicious. It's focused with intensely bright and lifted citrus aromas that are offset with slightly savory tones. then comes the texture, balance and persistence. It's mouthwatering with refreshing acidity that contrasts its surprisingly robust and weighted mid-palate. Slight tannins add subtle tension and pull the wine into a persistent, serious finish. It's awesome.
2017 Chardonnay – RRV ($29)
Both complex and elegant, showing its cool-climate heritage with concentrated flavors and a dark and lasting texture that has perfectly bright citrus tones for balance. It opens with warm spices, ripe pear and lemon aromas. It's distinctly Chardonnay. The texture and balance are spot on, making it one of those wines that draws you in for another sip. New oak has been used sparingly to enhance the wine with subtle toasted tones, rather than dominate the aromatic profile. This is serious Chardonnay with depth, structure and finesse.
