Summerwood 2012 Grenache Blanc

I recently met Summerwood’s exuberant winemaker Mauricio Marchant, a Chilean native, who candidly told me he styled this delightful white after one of the most famed Santa Ynez versions, Curran grenache blanc. I found that his version is one of the best I’ve had in several vintages. I was impressed by its delicious, subtle flavors of tropical fruit nuanced with notes of honey and flowers. Only hinting at sweetness, it leans to dry and it’s beautifully balanced. It’s a great choice with Asian or Spanish cuisines. I purchased several bottles of this excellent Rhone white, which I considered a very good value at $25 retail at the tasting room on Hwy. 46 West, or order it at summerwoodwine.com.

Troublemaker Blend 6 Paso Robles

• TROUBLEMAKER BLEND 6 PASO ROBLES:

This blend features Rhone reds with zin. Unusual but they’re among the best varieties grown in Paso Robles’s terroir, syrah, grenache, mourvedre, petite sirah, and zinfandel. Deeply hued, this ripe, flavorful red offers flavors of blackberries, plums, and wild berries nicely tamed by notes of smoke, minerals, and spice. It’s fabulous on its own and it’s a great choice for steak, game, grilled Andouille sausage, or lamb chops. The back label states it perfectly: “Intensely rich, velvety smooth, sneaky good.” That’s the best self-description I’ve ever read that accurately describes the wine! It’s a steal at only $20 retail, available in local wine shops, the tasting room on Hwy. 46 West, or at hopefamilywines.com