For years, I've heard of people holding onto special bottles of wine for just the "right" time and occasion. This has led to many a wine sitting in cellars unloved and at risk for turning. Some of the best advice I've heard about when is the right time to enjoy a special wine came from winemaker Csaba Szakal, of Engarde.
Csaba said the problem with saving a specific wine for a special occasion is that the wine takes a backseat to that special occasion, you will remember the event but not the wine. Why do that? Why not celebrate Wednesday and enjoy that special bottle in an environment you will be sure to savor and remember the wine itself. I thought this was brilliant and now every so often, Ashley and I celebrate "Wednesdays" to crack open something we've been storing. Sometimes we celebrate "Wednesdays" on a Friday, or Tuesday, or Monday...you get the picture.
Anywho, I am not a sommelier in any sense and just enjoy wine so my comments are likely pretty crude. I don't really care, this is mainly to remind myself of what I've had and enjoyed! Well, I will start the inaugural Wine Wednesday with what has now become one of my favorite wines from the Napa Valley: the 2010 Chiara Bianco Ribolla Gialla.
First some background on the discovery of this wine and why it's a personal favorite. Way back in the summer of 2011, Ashley and I were visiting Napa looking at wedding venues. We popped into the Napa Style store in Yountville for some wine tasting and snacks. One of the wines we tasted was this beauty that definitely has won my heart. It is difficult to describe and each person I have shared it with has tasted something different, but the usual response is a little bit of a surprise...in a good way.
The Chiara Bianco is made from the Italian Ribolla Gialla grape, that Michael Chiarello has brought to Napa. It is a white wine made like a red, with plenty of skins! In my opinion, it is has a complex flavor profile that definitely has changed over time. I tasted this three times at Napa Style during 2011 and brought three bottles home from the 2010 vintage (I also grabbed a case of the 2011 the next summer, which had a completely different taste, look for that review in the future).
2010 Chiarello Family Vineyards Chiara Bianco Ribolla Gialla
The wine is obviously, a white but has a very cloudy look with a decent amount of sediment. The legs were pretty decent as the viscosity is surprisingly high for a non-dessert white that is not too sweet.
The aroma is slightly-sweet with heavy citrus tones. I found the taste started with a heavy orange citrus that finished with a slight nutty oak. The flavor is very bold and complex, with some things lingering that are hard to lock down initially and differ greatly person to person.
This is a great summer wine for those long warm afternoons and I would pair this with some grilled chicken or a good pork dish, although this wine is brilliant on its own.
In summary, I bought the last 3 bottles they had and made plans to buy a case of the next years vintage, so I'd say pretty darn good. I need to taste the 2012 (just came out) to see if I continue this trend.
Cost: $35
Cost: $35
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