Like most American wine novices, I tend to think of wines in varietal terms — Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, etc. But I learned from reading The Judgment of Paris that the French consider a properly blended wine, one with a proper balance between the flavors of several grapes, to be the height of skilled winemaking. The famous Bordeaux wines, for example, are made from Cabernet, Merlot, or Cabernet Franc.
So lately I’ve been on the lookout for wines that blend different grapes, and I’ve generally been very happy with both the wine and the value you get for your dollar — I suspect that many Americans haven’t quite caught on to the blends and prefer the familiar “Cabernet” or “Chardonnay” labels, meaning you can find some tasty wines at low prices if you’re willing to be a bit adventurous.
Take the Cline Cellars Oakley Four Whites, for example, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Palomino, Semillon, and Malvasia Bianca (a grape I’d never heard of before) from one of my favorite Sonoma wineries.
Image from clinecellars.blogspot.com
Several fruit notes hit your palate right away — pears, a bit of peach, grapefruit — and tastes round and robust without being oaky or sweet. It’s a great alternative to a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc if you love those wines but could use a change of pace. It’s got a similar intensity of flavor without the grassy or vegetal notes NZSB is famous for. The finish is a bit dull compared to that first taste, but overall this is a gulpable wine great with spicy foods.
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