Super excited to be a Rat again!
Got the bottle and put it in the fridge overnight. The cork came out without a fight and at first glance, the wine had a straw color.
With my nose in the glass, I got very little so I decided to let the glass warm a bit to see if I got anything out of it. Nothing, maybe a hint of grapefruit, a touch of stone fruit? I’m really searching.
First sip was just like the nose. Not much there. Even as the wine came to room temperature and had some time to warm I didn’t get much except a little bit of alcohol in a crisp white wine, some roundness to it and some acid. Not my favorite white wine.
My wife and her friend got back from a yoga retreat the next day. I gave them each a glass without saying anything and asked for feedback. My wife just said she got alcohol and not much else. Her friend just smacked her lips and said ehh.
After I did my tasting I was shocked to see this at $32/bottle winery price. For me to pay $32/bottle for white wine I expect something spectacular. This bottle was just not for me. A disappointing review but Rats must be honest.
There are other better white wines out there for $10/bottle. I’m going to pass on this offering.
@Nel250 it’s not just you, it was generally lackluster experience for me too. I prefer not to be critical because I know how much effort goes into making any wine. However, this wine should have been left alone, maybe used to blend with something else. The winery price tells me someone has yet to get out and taste the competition. Every so often I see a wine that is so far off the mark it begs so many questions. This is one of them unfortunately.
Some notes on this from the recent SoCal Pasadena pops on the green meet up.
2016 Flinch Pierce’s white blend
Sonoma county
14.2% alcohol
Color: pale depth, straw yellow, clear.
Nose: big young nose of melon, stone fruit and grass. A little grapey.
Taste: dry, light bodied, nice acidity, no tannins to speak of, well balanced, notes of honey dew, a little bit grassy, some honey.
Overall: the lighter bodied, moderate in flavor white blend was nice on a hot summer afternoon. The acidity was good and seemed to pair well will lots of food. I liked this wine quite a bit.
I have to agree with Cory this was a pretty nice wine! Perfectly ripe honey dew melon and I got some hints of citrus with nicely balanced acid. This is not a wine that is trying to be Chablis or anything else it’s a California wine and a really nice one. Good stuff!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Flinch Reserve White Blend by Rutherford Wine Company - $80 = 39.99%
@chipgreen Yeah, ouch! As I post below I would love to “try” this style and see what they’ve made, but a full case is more than I’d want to risk, and the premium for the smaller pack just makes it unreasonable to me.
@chipgreen Percentages are a strange thing. One way to look at it is that you save 40%. But assuming you think the “normal” price is the case price, it means you are paying a 67% premium for buying the smaller pack!
More notes from the SoCal Pasadena pops on the green meet up. This was the first bottle opened, so our palates were as fresh as they were going to be. I would echo @Nel250’s comments. The wine is not bad, but not distinguished either. It is dry with some floral notes on the nose, a very light mouthfeel with some acid on the finish. The wife and I will pass on this one.
A little late on the Rat so I apologize. I ended up hosting a few guests yesterday evening.
Mild mannered nose. A little peach. Very very subtle aroma. Body is mildly acidic. It’s really hard to discern any layers if there is any complexity to speak of honestly. Finish starts off a little spicy and then smooths out to buttery once opened. I feel like it’s too clean. It’s a decent wine. Probably better paired with something. Not interesting enough to be enjoyed on its own.
I’m probably not the best Lab Rat for this wine as I don’t care much for white wines in general. However looking at the deal, if you do enjoy white wines then this seems like a good opportunity to stock up on a decent everyday drinker.
I had three friends over for dinner last night and the consensus reflected the above. I hope this helps you make your decision. I certainly wish I had more insights to offer.
Well, I am mixed on how to read the reviews. I personally like “unusual” white blends. I think a lot of the ones I really like, an lot of other people may not, or at least would not know what to make of it. But of course I’ve never tried this one. I think the reviews show how subjective these particular kinds of wine can be.
This is a “case” (pun intended) where I wish I could buy a half-case or 4 btls at a reasonable price difference. But the way it’s priced on this offer, the 3-bottle price/btl is just way too much of a premium.
Or as I’ve suggested in the past, please try to offer some “mix” in the offer, i.e. 2 or 3 different styles/vintages. Especially on blends, if they are made for several years, they tend to vary quite a bit because blends (and vineyard sources perhaps) often change.
BTW I really do like “Pinot Gris” style, as from some fine producers like Lange in Oregon. I tend to not like most CA “Pinot Grigio” style as I find them too “in-your-face” flavors, not subtle at all, and often too sweet for my liking. I do like Viogniers in general with the same disclaimer about avoiding too-strong-and-sweet styles. So the review that said it seemed weak and not what they expected, might in fact be exactly correct for that taste, but might mean it’s one I really would like!
Flinch Reserve White Blend by Rutherford Wine Company
3 bottles for $49.99 $16.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $119.99 $10/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Aromas & Flavors: Floral and vibrant. Flavors of citrus and grapfruit. Full and crisp on the palate.
Food Pairing: Arugula salad with shaved fennel and a lemon vinaigrette, grilled Sturgeon with beurre blanc or a margherita pizza
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
FLINCH was created to showcase small lots of truly exceptional fruit crafted into wines abundant in FLavor, INtensity and CHaracter.
The 2016 growing season started off with another dry winter. The harvest started off early due to low rain fall amounts and a warm Spring and Summer. The fruit maturity advanced quickly and evenly throughout the season which allowed for the fruit to be picked at the right time for full flavor development.
Three Generations Committed to 100% Sustainable Viticulture and the Crafting of Fine Wines.
Rutherford Wine Company is family-owned and managed with a portfolio of wines representing the rich diversity of California’s outstanding appellations. Today, the portfolio includes Rutherford Ranch Winery (Napa Valley), Round Hill, Scott Family Estate (Arroyo Seco), Lander-Jenkins Vineyards, Predator (Lodi), Rhiannon, Silver Buckle, and extensive Private Label offerings.
Uncompromising and ecologically far-sighted viticulture is an ethical imperative for us. Though more labor intensive than prevalent commercial winegrowing methods, our efforts are rewarded with fruit rich in flavor and character. And great fruit is a prerequisite for great wine.
The company is based at Rutherford Ranch Winery, in Napa Valley’s Rutherford District - one of the region’s most renowned sub-appellations. The winery and estate vineyards are certified sustainable by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. The critically acclaimed wines have been characterized as one of Napa’s great values by noted wine writer Robert Parker.
The winery received the ‘Family Owned Winery of the Year’ Award at the 2012 New York International Wine Competition. Rutherford Ranch Winery was named ‘Napa Winery of the Year’ at the 2013 NYIWC.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Super excited to be a Rat again!
Got the bottle and put it in the fridge overnight. The cork came out without a fight and at first glance, the wine had a straw color.
With my nose in the glass, I got very little so I decided to let the glass warm a bit to see if I got anything out of it. Nothing, maybe a hint of grapefruit, a touch of stone fruit? I’m really searching.
First sip was just like the nose. Not much there. Even as the wine came to room temperature and had some time to warm I didn’t get much except a little bit of alcohol in a crisp white wine, some roundness to it and some acid. Not my favorite white wine.
My wife and her friend got back from a yoga retreat the next day. I gave them each a glass without saying anything and asked for feedback. My wife just said she got alcohol and not much else. Her friend just smacked her lips and said ehh.
After I did my tasting I was shocked to see this at $32/bottle winery price. For me to pay $32/bottle for white wine I expect something spectacular. This bottle was just not for me. A disappointing review but Rats must be honest.
There are other better white wines out there for $10/bottle. I’m going to pass on this offering.
@Nel250 it’s not just you, it was generally lackluster experience for me too. I prefer not to be critical because I know how much effort goes into making any wine. However, this wine should have been left alone, maybe used to blend with something else. The winery price tells me someone has yet to get out and taste the competition. Every so often I see a wine that is so far off the mark it begs so many questions. This is one of them unfortunately.
Some notes on this from the recent SoCal Pasadena pops on the green meet up.
2016 Flinch Pierce’s white blend
Sonoma county
14.2% alcohol
Color: pale depth, straw yellow, clear.
Nose: big young nose of melon, stone fruit and grass. A little grapey.
Taste: dry, light bodied, nice acidity, no tannins to speak of, well balanced, notes of honey dew, a little bit grassy, some honey.
Overall: the lighter bodied, moderate in flavor white blend was nice on a hot summer afternoon. The acidity was good and seemed to pair well will lots of food. I liked this wine quite a bit.
I have to agree with Cory this was a pretty nice wine! Perfectly ripe honey dew melon and I got some hints of citrus with nicely balanced acid. This is not a wine that is trying to be Chablis or anything else it’s a California wine and a really nice one. Good stuff!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Flinch Reserve White Blend by Rutherford Wine Company - $80 = 39.99%
@chipgreen Yeah, ouch! As I post below I would love to “try” this style and see what they’ve made, but a full case is more than I’d want to risk, and the premium for the smaller pack just makes it unreasonable to me.
@chipgreen Percentages are a strange thing. One way to look at it is that you save 40%. But assuming you think the “normal” price is the case price, it means you are paying a 67% premium for buying the smaller pack!
More notes from the SoCal Pasadena pops on the green meet up. This was the first bottle opened, so our palates were as fresh as they were going to be. I would echo @Nel250’s comments. The wine is not bad, but not distinguished either. It is dry with some floral notes on the nose, a very light mouthfeel with some acid on the finish. The wife and I will pass on this one.
A little late on the Rat so I apologize. I ended up hosting a few guests yesterday evening.
Mild mannered nose. A little peach. Very very subtle aroma. Body is mildly acidic. It’s really hard to discern any layers if there is any complexity to speak of honestly. Finish starts off a little spicy and then smooths out to buttery once opened. I feel like it’s too clean. It’s a decent wine. Probably better paired with something. Not interesting enough to be enjoyed on its own.
I’m probably not the best Lab Rat for this wine as I don’t care much for white wines in general. However looking at the deal, if you do enjoy white wines then this seems like a good opportunity to stock up on a decent everyday drinker.
I had three friends over for dinner last night and the consensus reflected the above. I hope this helps you make your decision. I certainly wish I had more insights to offer.
@ScottW58 @Cortot
Would you to say the crisp acidity was from the PG?
I don’t generally associate that from the Vio. Gewürtz for some nose? Grass?
Where are the rest of the rats?
@rjquillin yes.
Well, I am mixed on how to read the reviews. I personally like “unusual” white blends. I think a lot of the ones I really like, an lot of other people may not, or at least would not know what to make of it. But of course I’ve never tried this one. I think the reviews show how subjective these particular kinds of wine can be.
This is a “case” (pun intended) where I wish I could buy a half-case or 4 btls at a reasonable price difference. But the way it’s priced on this offer, the 3-bottle price/btl is just way too much of a premium.
Or as I’ve suggested in the past, please try to offer some “mix” in the offer, i.e. 2 or 3 different styles/vintages. Especially on blends, if they are made for several years, they tend to vary quite a bit because blends (and vineyard sources perhaps) often change.
BTW I really do like “Pinot Gris” style, as from some fine producers like Lange in Oregon. I tend to not like most CA “Pinot Grigio” style as I find them too “in-your-face” flavors, not subtle at all, and often too sweet for my liking. I do like Viogniers in general with the same disclaimer about avoiding too-strong-and-sweet styles. So the review that said it seemed weak and not what they expected, might in fact be exactly correct for that taste, but might mean it’s one I really would like!
@pmarin I really don’t think you’re missing much if you pass on this one unfortunately.
Flinch Reserve White Blend by Rutherford Wine Company
3 bottles for $49.99 $16.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $119.99 $10/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2016 Flinch Reserve White Blend
Tasting Notes
Aromas & Flavors: Floral and vibrant. Flavors of citrus and grapfruit. Full and crisp on the palate.
Food Pairing: Arugula salad with shaved fennel and a lemon vinaigrette, grilled Sturgeon with beurre blanc or a margherita pizza
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
FLINCH was created to showcase small lots of truly exceptional fruit crafted into wines abundant in FLavor, INtensity and CHaracter.
The 2016 growing season started off with another dry winter. The harvest started off early due to low rain fall amounts and a warm Spring and Summer. The fruit maturity advanced quickly and evenly throughout the season which allowed for the fruit to be picked at the right time for full flavor development.
Specifications
Included In The Box
Price Comparison
$510.39/case at Rutherford Wine Company for 2017 not 2016 sold today (including shipping)
About The Winery
Winery: Rutherford Wine Company
Location: Napa Valley/Rutherford, CA
Three Generations Committed to 100% Sustainable Viticulture and the Crafting of Fine Wines.
Rutherford Wine Company is family-owned and managed with a portfolio of wines representing the rich diversity of California’s outstanding appellations. Today, the portfolio includes Rutherford Ranch Winery (Napa Valley), Round Hill, Scott Family Estate (Arroyo Seco), Lander-Jenkins Vineyards, Predator (Lodi), Rhiannon, Silver Buckle, and extensive Private Label offerings.
Uncompromising and ecologically far-sighted viticulture is an ethical imperative for us. Though more labor intensive than prevalent commercial winegrowing methods, our efforts are rewarded with fruit rich in flavor and character. And great fruit is a prerequisite for great wine.
The company is based at Rutherford Ranch Winery, in Napa Valley’s Rutherford District - one of the region’s most renowned sub-appellations. The winery and estate vineyards are certified sustainable by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. The critically acclaimed wines have been characterized as one of Napa’s great values by noted wine writer Robert Parker.
The winery received the ‘Family Owned Winery of the Year’ Award at the 2012 New York International Wine Competition. Rutherford Ranch Winery was named ‘Napa Winery of the Year’ at the 2013 NYIWC.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, October 17th - Monday, October 21st
PH and RS please?
I find a lot of Pino Grigio too acidic for my tastes, but the other wines in the mix give me hope.