WTN: Annia...go with him

[David M. Bueker]

2016 Massican Annia - USA, California, Napa Valley (1/6/2018)
My first bottle of this wine was on a hot, humid summer day. It brought refreshment, as well as intellectual stimulation.

My second bottle was on a day that could not have been more different. Temperatures were hovering below zero. The house was too cold for red wine. I brought this up from the cellar, and left it on the counter, figuring 58 degrees would be a good serving temperature. Soup was simmering, and I opened the wine to that same mélange of pear, peach skin, herb and saline minerality that graced the first bottle so many days (and degree days) ago. It brought a touch of summer sunshine to a bone chilling winter day. It brought joy.

A wine does not need to do anything more.

2016 Massican Annia - USA, California, Napa Valley (1/6/2018)
My first bottle of this wine was on a hot, humid summer day. It brought refreshment, as well as intellectual stimulation.

My second bottle was on a day that could not have been more different. Temperatures were hovering below zero. The house was too cold for red wine. I brought this up from the cellar, and left it on the counter, figuring 58 degrees would be a good serving temperature. Soup was simmering, and I opened the wine to that same mélange of pear, peach skin, herb and saline minerality that graced the first bottle so many days (and degree days) ago. It brought a touch of summer sunshine to a bone chilling winter day. It brought joy.

A wine does not need to do anything more.

Yup, David..you pretty much nailed this. I really love it for that saline/minerality. Just lip-smackin’ good stuff.
Tom

"The house was too cold for red wine"

I just do not "get" this red wine/white wine temp. thing. I drink wine based on what I want or am eating at that moment since I have air conditioning in the summer and a fine wood stove in the winter. I also resent not being able to buy in a restaurant an Imperial Stout in the summer as that is a "winter" beer. What the F#@#. O.K....I feel better now.

[David M. Bueker]

Jim,

It was cold enough that the reds were mute.

It’s not dogma, just fact.

love the title, David; brings back memories...

this is a blend? Still haven;t tried a Massican

Jim,

It was cold enough that the reds were mute.

Yes, I think I've written before about facing this problem. Which can be paradoxical because often people think of winter as the time for bigger red wines.

I can usually get a good serving temperature for dinner by keeping the wine near the oven while cooking dinner. But if I'm trying to take the last sips and it's several hours after dinner, things can get pretty hard!

Sounds like a white I would enjoy...a blend of ribolla gialla, tocai friulano and chardonnay.

The winemaker was honored with a very flattering full page spread in this past week's San Francisco Chronicle.

http://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/wi ... -the-year/

I would like to try his wines as well! Everything you mention (the saline notes!!!) is right up my palate alley.

[David M. Bueker]

Meg Maker has tasted a bunch of the Massican wines.

Here's her thoughts on the 2016 Annia: http://terroirreview.com/2017/07/31/201 ... pa-valley/

And a write up about winemaker Dan Petroski: http://terroirreview.com/2016/01/04/a-t ... an-winery/