2021 Villa Creek Cellars "Cherry House White Wine", Paso Robles, California, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

Inspired by the exotic whites of Chateauneuf du Pape, Cris has fashioned a blend of 50% Clairette and 50% Grenache Blanc. The Clairette grapes fermented and aged in French oak (10% new) with full malolactic fermentation. The Grenache Blanc grapes are fermented and aged in neutral barriques with partial malolactic fermentation.

This gem is loaded with gorgeous aromas of lemon blossoms, peaches, and a floral shop worth of flowers! The neutral oak aging adds texture and body, without any oaky flavors, allowing the fruit to shine through. All throughout, there is a bright core of acidity that keeps it eminently balanced and more than a little bit drinkable. The total acidity is 7.1 g/L and the PH is 3.32 with 14.3% alcohol.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

One of their great pleasures at Villa Creek is preserving a moment in time in a bottle and enjoying it for years to come. Villa Creek wines capture the vintage of the best biodynamic and organically farmed vineyard sites on the west side of Paso Robles and the Central Coast of California.

Most of Villa Creek wines are dominated by Grenache and Syrah. They began working with Grenache in 2001. Grenache brings vibrance, round red fruits, and an amazingly complex mouthfeel. Syrah brings an entirely different component; dark and brooding, delicious and meaty. The west Paso Robles limestone imparts freshness and vitality to Syrah taking it to another dimension of complexity and cellar worthiness. Each vineyard’s microclimate adds its own nuances that they do their best to capture. Villa Creek red wines also include Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Petite Sirah as blending components and occasionally as special-release single varieties. They work with Roussanne and Clairette in the white wine program, both as blends and single varieties.

Villa Creek wines are made with grapes grown on the home estate, MAHA, and with grapes from vineyards that meet the growing criteria of being certified organic and/or biodynamic or practicing organic farming methods. Currently, the vineyard sources are MAHA, James Berry, and Kirk-Landry.

In order to truly capture the vintage, they let the grapes do the work as they facilitate optimal fermentation conditions. All clusters and grapes are hand-picked and double-sorted by hand on the vibrating sorting tables. About 20% of grapes are fermented on stems. The winery is a Demeter Biodynamic and CCOF organic certified facility. As biodynamic standards allow for minimal sulfur use and organic yeasts, these are used only when required, not as common practice. Their preference is always to allow the unique native yeasts the opportunity to flourish.