June 9, 2004
Summer Wines-Take TwoPrimary colors: Pink, White, and Red
Pink!
Last week I suggested "Botasea," a rose wine, produced by Palmina for your summertime enjoyment. Just released and a perfect summertime rose, Karen Steinwachs who manages their website told me, "Botasea" is a charming word in a Venetian dialect that translates into "little barrel" in English. She told me, while a student in Italy, Chrystal Clifton would brainstorm with her friends about making a classic Italian rosé wine for introduction in the United States. The wine would have to be crisp and refreshing and have a beautiful pink color.
Upon completion of her studies in Italy, Chrystal returned to California and began working in the wine world, still harboring her dream of that "little project" of the Botasea.
In 2000, Chrystal joined husband Steve Clifton at Palmina wines, where she become involved in all aspects of the venture.
Palmina produces Italian varieties in Santa Barbara County as part of a focus on celebrating the rich lifestyle and attitude toward food, wine, friends and family that exists in Italy.
As part of that philosophy, Chrystal decided to not only make her Botasea, but to extend the "pinkness" of the wine to a greater good. A portion of the price of each bottle is being donated to a local breast cancer support organization where it will aid in the fight against breast cancer.
"As a woman winemaker, I feel that I should help in this fight against a disease that threatens so many women's lives", said Chrystal Clifton. "This is the second vintage for our Botasea, and we decided this year to support a local group that is helping women recovering or dealing with breast cancer."
The Rosato di Palmina was handcrafted by Chrystal in a traditional method and is limited to fifty-five cases, about one barrel. The wine is a classic dry rosé made from Sangiovese and Barbera grapes, with a lively crispness and subtle notes of cherry and strawberry as is typical of Chianti Rosato wines. Served well chilled, the Botasea di Palmina is a perfect complement to spicy dishes and stands on its own as a refreshing aperitif on a hot summer day.
Palmina is a Californian celebration of the rich, wonderful lifestyle and attitude toward food, wine, friends and family that exists in Italy.
The suggested retail price for this limited production wine is $19.50.
White!
For a tasty summertime white, and a wine I wrote about upon its release, try Buttonwood Farm's 2002 sauvignon blanc. Sauvignon blanc, by the way, is Buttonwood's signature wine.
Buttonwood's warm vineyard location in the Santa Ynez Valley appellation, gravelly soil, and winemaker know-how combine to create a wine that refreshes while exciting the palate with pleasingly tart sauvignon blanc flavors, Sherrill Duggan of the winery told me recently.
Two thirds stainless steel tank fermenting and aging preserve the natural qualities of the grape and keep the flavors fresh and light. The addition of seven percent semillon, another Bordeaux white variety which is classically blended with sauvignon blanc, contributes richness to both mouthfeel and finish.
The summer of 2002 was a glorious season here in the Santa Ynez Valley, Sherrill told me. "Warm days and cool nights provided optimum growing conditions for our sauvignon blanc grapes. We think 2002 Buttonwood Sauvignon Blanc captures all that summer sunshine in the bottle to be enjoyed over and over again. You'll love the clean citrus and honeysuckle aromas followed by a light touch of ruby grapefruit on the palate. Light enough to serve with a salad and a natural with seafood, try 2002 Buttonwood Sau vignon Blanc with hearts of romaine tossed with a homemade Caesar dressing complete with minced anchovies and plenty of freshly grated parmesan," she said.
About 1800 cases were produced. The suggested retail price for this wine is $14.
Red!
Quite possibly my favorite summertime red is Santa Barbara Winery's "Beaujour," perfect with barbecues, salsa, guacamole and chips. "Great with Mexican food too," Craig Addis of the winery told me last week, adding that he and Ann-his wife-had it the night before we talked with burritos!
"Beaujour," which literally translates from French as beautiful day is made from 100 percent zinfandel. It is made in the style of a nouveau Beaujolais which means the wine is made for early drinking after release with a real fruit-forward character.
Half the fruit for this wine was crushed and fermented in the traditional open top fomenter. The other half was produced by "carbonic maceration." With carbonic maceration, whole clusters are fermented and many are just lightly crushed. Craig told me, the carbonic portion is foot stomped, with FDA approved stomping boots, of course.
This wine has "gobs of fruit," is delicious chilled, and the sort of wine you can drink from glass tumblers, Craig told me.
About 800 cases were produced. The suggested retail price is $10.
Wine lover and Santa Maria Times Wine columnist, Bob Senn, lives in the bucolic Los Alamos Valley and owns the Los Olivos Wine & Spirits Emporium.
