WTN: Very good Mendocino County SB

[John Treder]

I bought this at Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa for no particular reason. I guess I liked the label and the price.
I opened it for a supper of seared scallops and corn on the cob, and it fit perfectly.
Very crisp, slightly greenish color, maybe a hint of gooseberry. Not as in-your-face as many NZ bottles. Good length.
I have no idea who Pattianna is.
Calif., Mendocino County, Pattianna Sauv. Blanc 2009 $11.99 13.8% alcohol

John

[Jon Leifer]

sounds like a visit to Bottle Barn may be squeezed into our schedule this Fall, haven't been there since 2008..I too never heard of Pattianna

[Hoke]

Pattiana is from one of the Fetzer siblings. This particular one is from a ranch on the immediate east side of the Russian River in Mendo, first slope coming up from the river, just above the Sanel Valley. It is organically farmed, and they've been doing SB for some years now. Has a pretty good rep for grapefruity SB, though within the California-fruity style range. Pretty consistent and reliable as well. I think it's a decent buy.

[John Treder]

Thanks, Hoke.
I used to buy Fetzer quite a bit in the 90s, then they changed or I changed or quite likely both.

John

[Hoke]

Thanks, Hoke.
I used to buy Fetzer quite a bit in the 90s, then they changed or I changed or quite likely both.

John

Both, I think, John.

I need to point out that this isn't a "Fetzer Wine". It's a vineyard/brand started by one of the 11 children of the Fetzer family after they sold their brand and name to another company. So it is separate from the Fetzer wines you see out there. It's considered a pretty good vineyard and brand, and I drink it often...I like some of the better Mendo Sauvignon Blancs.

Another one...that is a Fetzer brand....that you should try is the Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc. It's organic (and quite a lot of biodynamically grown grapes), sourced from Lake County, and made very much in the grapefruity New Zealand anaerobic style. Also under screwcap.

I used to work for the company that made the wine, but don't anymore; I still drink the wine, though, because it's good. And that company doesn't own the winery anymore either, as it has been sold to the Chilean Concha y Toro company. CyT has wisely chosen to maintain the vineyards and staff and allow them to do their own thing pretty much----and they do it well.

[John Treder]

Thanks for the education. I'm always interested in the workings of an industry.

John

[Shaji M]

If I may chime in, another Fetzer offshoot in Lake county, Ceago Vinegarden has been quietly making some excellent wines.
-Shaji

[Hoke]

If I may chime in, another Fetzer offshoot in Lake county, Ceago Vinegarden has been quietly making some excellent wines.
-Shaji

Agreed, Shaji.

Interesting that Jimmy Fetzer, the most fervid of the forward-looking Fetzers and the most restless, sold Bonterrato finance the development of Ceago in Lake County (and Ceago was the original name of Bonterra's home place vineyard.)