Palazzo California Reserve Cuvee Blanc 2016
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Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Beautiful floral aromas of white peach, pear, and tropical fruit, along with hints of orange blossom laced throughout. Opulent and rich, with great texture and full-body, especially for a white wine. Balanced with bright, zesty acidity & stunning minerality rarely seen in domestic white wines. Delicious passion fruit and white peach flavors. Complex, yet refreshing and balanced.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Cuvée Blanc Reserve, made of 98% Sémillon and 2% Sauvignon Blanc, features beautiful lemon curd, lime blossoms and mandarin peel notes with touches of paraffin wax, coriander seed and acacia honey. Medium-bodied, elegant and stacked with fragrant citrus flavors, it has a lively backbone and long, satin-textured finish.
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James Suckling
Bold, toasty-hazelnut oak aromas with a fresh-peach core that defines the nose and palate. Smooth, supple texture. Neat, fresh finish. Drink now.
Other Vintages
2017-
Suckling
James
Sometimes light and crisp, other times rich and creamy, Bordeaux White Blends typically consist of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Often, a small amount of Muscadelle or Sauvignon Gris is included for added intrigue. Popularized in Bordeaux, the blend is often mimicked throughout the New World. Somm Secret—Sauternes and Barsac are usually reserved for dessert, but they can be served before, during or after a meal. Try these sweet wines as an aperitif with jamón ibérico, oysters with a spicy mignonette or during dinner alongside hearty Alsatian sausage.
One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.
The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. White wines from Napa Valley are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that claim specific wine characteristics based on situation, slope and soil. Farthest south and coolest from the influence of the San Pablo Bay is Carneros, followed by Coombsville to its northeast and then Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Above those are the warm St. Helena and the valley's newest and hottest AVA, Calistoga. These areas follow the valley floor and are known generally for creating rich, dense, complex and smooth red wines with good aging potential. The mountain sub appellations, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs, include Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley (farther east), Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain District and Diamond Mountain District. Napa Valley wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from a lot of time in the bottle to evolve and soften.