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Spring fling FIVE WINES UNDER $40 IDEAL FOR SPRING SIPPING by
Hana-Lee Sedgwick
2020 Curtis Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley Cabernet Franc At Storm Wines we follow one rule - make the wines we like to drink. So it was only natural for us to add a carbonic Cabernet Franc to the line up! Artwork by Elsa Storm Tasting Notes
Bright cherry fruit and bell pepper dominate the nose with hints of tea leaf and red pepper flakes. The palate is bursting with berry fruit and held together by fine tannins and a firm structure. Production Details • 100% Curtis Vineyard • 85 cases produced
Storm Curtis Vineyard Cabernet Franc ($38) Though originally hailing from South Africa, winemaker Ernst Storm has taken Santa Barbara by storm (pun intended) with his highly nuanced wines. New to his lineup, this carbonic Cabernet Franc hits the mark for spring sipping; it’s highly quaffable but not lacking in character. Offering mouthwatering notes of bright red fruit, pepper, and herbs, as well as a firm structure and juicy finish, no doubt this will be a fun wine to sip all spring. Serve chilled. Brander Sauvignon Blanc ($20) Since first planting Bordeaux varieties in Santa Barbara County in 1975, Fred Brander has made a name for himself 64
FOOD + HOME
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100% Carbonic 14 day ferment Aged is 600 liter barrels 10 months aging on lees No fining or filtration
as a top producer of sauvignon of peach and melon on the blanc in California. His estatepalate, which reveals a lithe yet Alc. 12.5% | pH 3.55 | Totaltexture Acid: 5.9g/l grown Sauvignon Blanc, which vibrant and persistent represents over 50 percent of finish. Bright, honest, and low Brander’s entire production, in alcohol, it’s a lively, exciting offers bright notes of grapefruit wine on par with Tanner’s and stone fruit, with an signature style. emphasis on fruit expression and freshness. Besides being Story of Soil Grassini Family approachable and ideal for Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc pairing with spring’s bounty, it ($35) offers incredible value, making Winemaker Jessica Gasca has it an easy one to reach for all gained a loyal following for her spring and well into summer. small-lot, single-varietal wines, sourced from single vineyards PO BOX 393, SOLVANG 93464 • 530.409.1875 • INFO@STORMWINES.COM Lumen Santa Maria Valley throughout the Santa Barbara WWW.STORMWINES.COM Pinot Noir ($36) region. Her Sauvignon Blanc, Made by trailblazing female hailing from Happy Canyon’s winemaker Lane Tanner, this Grassini Family Vineyards, is Pinot Noir from three coola lovely choice for the season. climate vineyards showcases Brimming with notes of white appealing aromas of ripe flowers, white nectarine, and strawberry, cherry cola, and lime zest, the palate is lifted wild sage. Blue and black by a generous dose of acidity, fruits intertwine with notes which maintains freshness.
While innately crisp and bright, barrel integration during the fermentation and aging process adds roundness to the texture, making it a natural choice for pairing with food. Frequency Rosé ($32) For winemaker Zac Wasserman’s family-owned and -operated Frequency Wines, he sources fruit from single vineyards throughout Santa Barbara County to produce the purest expressions of the region’s distinct growing areas. Sourced from Camp 4 Vineyard, this 87 percent grenache and 12 percent graciano rosé displays delicate notes of grapefruit and tangerine, with a subtle backbone of minerality on the crisp, dry finish. As with many rosés, it’s best enjoyed on a sunny day, with or without food. W W W. F O O D – H O M E . C O M
