Andretti Sauvignon Blanc 1999

[hotwine]

At a vintner dinner last night with Michael Andretti of Indy and Formula 1 fame, this wine was paired with grilled portabella mushrooms and brandywine tomatoes with fresh Provolone cheese and a spicy apricot vinagrette, and goat cheese canapes. The wine was well-matched, with light citrus and herb notes and no overt oakiness. This is a nice patio sipping wine, but better with food than without. And better than most California SB's that I've tasted. $9.99 locally.

[Bucko]

What's the appellation on this wine?

Bucko

[hotwine]

Appellation is Napa Valley.

[Bucko]

So what did you think of the wines, overall?

Bucko

[hotwine]

Overall, we were pleasantly surprised and impressed with his wines. There were a couple of turkeys in the group of seven (although that's probably unfair, and others wouldn't agree), and we wouldn't walk across the street for either - the 1998 Napa Valley Claret at $8.99 is a good six bucks overpriced, and the 1997 Napa Valley Merlot at $17.99 is not a wine that we would buy. (The price isn't the problem - we're just not big fans of Merlots.) But he has obviously invested a lot of himself in his winery, and it doesn't appear to be a hobby or tax-loss - he's serious about it. And although he's made the usual California varietals, he's taken some additional risks, with his Claret and Sangiovese. And hoo-boy, the Sangiovese! At $21.99, it was the most expensive presented, but also one of his best.

A delightful evening overall - the best wines and food since our one and only cruise (Alaskan Inside Passage on the Golden Odyssey), in 1993.