Dry Creek has produced Fumé Blanc since 1972-- a wine at the heart and soul of this highly regarded family winery. Modeled after the classic wines from the Loire Valley in France, this stainless steel fermented bottling is crisp, balanced and immediately drinkable. Winery founder David Stare was the first to plant the Sauvignon Blanc varietal in the Dry Creek Valley, against the advice of many viticultural experts. Many years later, Sauv Blanc is now the most widely planted white variety in the Dry Creek Valley, and Stare’s daughter Kim and her husband Don are proud to carry on his legacy producing this classic, dry white wine.
We have championed the wines of Dry Creek for many years because they make great wines and offer them at very fair pricing. But, we must confess, some of us are also quite taken with their theme of and commitment to sailing. Their labels are some of the loveliest in the business, hands down, thanks to Sonoma County artist Michael Surles. We encourage you to visit drycreekvineyard.com and read/ogle more about their ties to the sea (if you’re into that kind of thing).
Speaking of great wines and fair pricing, how about this 2021 Fume Blanc! Reef the sails and batten down the hatches because this one offers up a tsunami of flavors and scents. As mentioned above, the wine sees no oak and all stainless steel for aging, so crisp and clean (and no caffeine) is the theme. The nose is filled with spring and tropical fruits and more: apricot, peach, an assortment of melons, pineapple, Scottish shortbread cookie, wet stone and flint. The mouthfeel is lush and rich but kept spry by racy acidity coursing throughout. The stone and tropical fruits found in the nose carry on through to the palate: think white peach, apricot and melons joined by notes of river rock minerality, citrus and lemongrass. The finish is bright and clean with the fruit flavors slowly fading as nuances of sea salt and jasmine add to the flourish.
As the temperatures and humidity levels soar, a nice chilled wine like this will definitely alleviate some discomfort and almost make you feel like you're on a schooner in the middle of the ocean with fair winds above and peaceful swells below, while the flavors will steer you to the tropics for some relaxation time.
WINE SPECTATOR 90 POINTS - "Fragrant, expressive and distinctive, with plenty to admire among the lemongrass, lemon verbena and lemon-lime flavors at the core. Shows accents of green tea and lemon balm, plus a hint of orange sherbet, all on a sleek frame. Drink now."
We have championed the wines of Dry Creek for many years because they make great wines and offer them at very fair pricing. But, we must confess, some of us are also quite taken with their theme of and commitment to sailing. Their labels are some of the loveliest in the business, hands down, thanks to Sonoma County artist Michael Surles. We encourage you to visit drycreekvineyard.com and read/ogle more about their ties to the sea (if you’re into that kind of thing).
Speaking of great wines and fair pricing, how about this 2021 Fume Blanc! Reef the sails and batten down the hatches because this one offers up a tsunami of flavors and scents. As mentioned above, the wine sees no oak and all stainless steel for aging, so crisp and clean (and no caffeine) is the theme. The nose is filled with spring and tropical fruits and more: apricot, peach, an assortment of melons, pineapple, Scottish shortbread cookie, wet stone and flint. The mouthfeel is lush and rich but kept spry by racy acidity coursing throughout. The stone and tropical fruits found in the nose carry on through to the palate: think white peach, apricot and melons joined by notes of river rock minerality, citrus and lemongrass. The finish is bright and clean with the fruit flavors slowly fading as nuances of sea salt and jasmine add to the flourish.
As the temperatures and humidity levels soar, a nice chilled wine like this will definitely alleviate some discomfort and almost make you feel like you're on a schooner in the middle of the ocean with fair winds above and peaceful swells below, while the flavors will steer you to the tropics for some relaxation time.
WINE SPECTATOR 90 POINTS - "Fragrant, expressive and distinctive, with plenty to admire among the lemongrass, lemon verbena and lemon-lime flavors at the core. Shows accents of green tea and lemon balm, plus a hint of orange sherbet, all on a sleek frame. Drink now."
