Easton Natoma

[Innkeeper]

1999 Easton, Natoma, Sierra Foothills ($16.00). This wine is 62% sauvignon blanc, and 38% semillon; which easily qualifies it as a Graves, Bordeaux type wine. The background information sent my antennae atwitter. It was fermented in French oak (25% new) and laid on its lees seemingly forever. At least there was no mal involved. It weighs in at 13.5% alcohol, and 6.8 gm/ltr acidity. Three things saved it, semillon, terrior, and acidity.

It starts out with ripe melons on the nose and upfront. It must be raised on a southern facing slope in Fiddletown that lets the sauvignon ripen slowly and fully and this terrior and the resulting acidic complexity runs across the palate, before the sultry semillon finishes the wine in ecstasy. Never in a million years did I think I'd like this baby. The oak faded into the background of the good stuff. It's a winner, even though I felt a tingling under my lower front lip from the acid. I like that in a white wine as much as I like tannin in a red.

Drank it primarily as an aperitif with some cold fried chicken in the middle. Great both ways..

[Innkeeper]

Another of these (same vintage) turned up in the Fall '03 Sampler Case. Popped it last night with sauteed chicken breast in aioli with salad in raspberry-hazelnut vinaigrette. It has only gained with age. Fantastic! We are beginning to believe in this aging the SBs thing. We have some Loire Valley Sancerres and Pouilly Fumes in the basement that we plan to let set there for a while.

[Innkeeper]

2000 Easton, Sierra Foothills, Natoma ($10). Can’t understand why the price went down by $6. It could be because that had inventory they need to move to make room for a newer vintage. I can’t understand that either as the wine is simply splendid. It is the best Californian version of Bordeaux Blanc that I’ve ever tried. It is 60% SB and 40% Semillon, and weighs in at 13.5% alcohol. It gives you papaya, apple, pear, and fig on the nose and upfront. Creamy body with crisp acidity and a mild dose of oak cross the palate. The finish lingers and lingers. Matched it with fried chicken and pilaf. All very nice. Will check and see if they have another box laying around.