2007 Chateau St Jean Fume Blanc, California $13
Many people may not know that Sauvignon blanc and Fume blanc are made from the same grape and are essentially the same wine. Sometimes Fume may refer to Sauvignon Blanc aged in oak, but there are many Sauvignon Blancs that do not say Fume with are aged in oak. So if you are looking for a Sauvignon Blanc that is not as acidic and has some toasty oak notes, than a Fume may be your ticket. The aromas on this wine were outstanding, hints of honey dew melon and fresh fig filled the glass. The flavors were perfectly in balance with every taste sensation blending seamlessly with each sip. Lemongrass, white peaches, and lemon zest were perfectly balance with hints of creamy toasted almond notes. The finish let the summer fruit and citrus notes evolve and slowly dissipate. This wine has a small amount of Semillon and Viognier blended in to give some additional aromatics and warm fruit flavors. About 35 percent of the blend in this wine were aged in oak to add the complexity of nuts and herbal characteristics.
Having the subtle oak influence you can get quite adventurous with your menu ideas. We enjoyed our bottle with shrimp in a light cream and herb sauce over pasta. The fresh flavors of the herbs along with the cream and clean flavors of the shrimp allowed the fresh flavors in the wine along with the nuttiness sub notes to shine in each sip. You could also use this wine with chicken or even veal piccata. It will stand up to a light cream sauce and almost anything you can grab out of the garden.
Chateau St Jean was established in 1973 and has evolved into one of the most prominent wineries in Sonoma. They have a strong commitment to vineyard designated wines, with many of their vineyards in highly acclaimed areas in Sonoma. Margo Van Staaveren, who has been with the winery for over 25 years working her way up to becoming only the fourth winemaker at Chateau St Jean. A cornerstone of her winemaking philosophy is the art of blending, creating a style of wine or a signature blend that is similar year after year, all the while letting the uniqueness of the vintage to play a part in the final blend.
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