2019 Acquiesce Winery Belle Blanc – Homage to White Chateauneuf du Pape
The Winery
When Sue Tipton founded Acquiesce Winery, she was on a mission unique to Lodi AVA and in fact, most vinicultural areas. She sought out to offer only “white Rhone wines”!! She was chastised and admonished why she should not focus on “solely white wines”. Yes based on her passion and life experiences in France, she proceeded without wavering. She sourced and planted the best vines from the Chateau de Beaucastel of Chateauneuf du Pape on her quest. Today she has and continues making artisan and award winning boutique wines. Her awards are too numerous to list, but include International Women’s Wine Competition Gold Medal, California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition Gold Medal, American Fine Wine Competition Double Gold, SF Chronicle Wine Competition Gold Medal and many, many more.
2019 Belle Blanc
Belle Blanc not only is her homage to white Chateauneuf du Pape, but it’s floral nose with aromas of pear and honeysuckle are spectacular. In fact so fragrant she won a Gold Medal at the 2021 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. It is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Viognier which produces a strong floral aroma of honeysuckle, pear and apricot. The blend also provides a creamy thick viscosity wine in the glass and a golden touch of mystic. The finish is silky smooth with a medium pointed acidity to produce a multi-structured finish. The grapes for this wine are all hand-picked and pressed as whole clusters to capture the essence of grape flavors. The juice is cool fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve the highest quality of the fruit. At $34/bottle, this is an excellent mouth filling wine.
The Food and Wine Pairing
Last evening a simple meal of two different smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, purple onion slices and peppers were provided to eat alone or on a bagel. The salmon, cream cheese and capers along with wine captured the moment perfectly. The purple onion and peppers were a bit bunch for this elegant and delightful wine.
While I have enjoyed the three wines that went into making this excellent blend, this was my first experience tasting it as a blend. It will not be my last!!
Sláinte and Merry Christmas,
Michael
California Wines & Wineries 