Mentida White shines with flavors of passion fruit, pineapple, and Meyer lemon, balanced acidity and a full-bodied texture. Every sip brings memories of your toes in the sand. A perfect accompaniment with buttered popcorn and your favorite TV series.
Mentida, or guilty pleasure, is Jillian Johnson DeLeon’s polarizing new brand that embodies how many wine lovers enjoy a delicious bottle of wine. These are wines that you don’t have to swirl and discuss, no wine notes needed or wine snobbery. No contemplating the soil profile of the vineyard, the weather that year, or the type of barrel used, just pure unrefined pleasure in each bottle. Don your mask and indulge in Mentida, your newest guilty pleasure.
I love working with non-mainstream grape varieties, it’s probably all the years I spent working with Randall (Graham). By making blends, I can continue to work with the unique varieties and package them in a way that is less intimidating, more fun and approachable.
– Jillian Johnson DeLeon
Specifications
Vintage: 2016
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Viognier
Alcohol: 13%
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $240/case at the winery
About The Winery
Winery: Onesta Wines
Owner: Jillian Johnson DeLeon
Location: Lodi, CA
Jillian found her passion for wine while studying neurobiology at UC Davis. Home brewing introduced her to the magic of fermentation, and after taking the “Introductory to Winemaking” class at UC Davis, she quickly switched her major to Viticulture and Enology. She graduated with her degree in 2001 and soon thereafter found herself as an intern at the famous Bonny Doon Winery.
Her desire to learn more about winemaking has taken her around the globe. To gain essential winemaking experience in a short time, Jillian traveled to the southern hemisphere to work an additional harvest each year. For three years she traveled south to learn how to work with different varieties and observe different winemaking styles. She did internships in McLaren Vale (South Australia), Margaret River (Western Australia), and Stellenbosch (South Africa).
Syrah quickly became her deepest passion and she returned to Bonny Doon as Associate Winemaker in 2005, focusing her talents on the Rhone varieties that the Dooner is known for. She played a major role in the transition to biodynamic winemaking at Bonny Doon. Now a truly seasoned winemaker, Jillian has started her own passion project, Onesta. Her artistic expression is manifested in her wines. Jillian’s wines speak the truth of each growing season and each vintage is a new adventure for her, riding the waves of Mother Nature. Her promise to herself and her customers is to deliver wines with personality and depth every year. Jillian’s wines are made with passion and love, just like she lives her life. Her hope is that every sip of Onesta will ignite the soul with passion and enthusiasm for living life to the fullest.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
@losthighwayz You totally missed out and are seemingly woefully misinformed.
Lodi rocked with some outstanding producers and bottles when we toured there earlier.
Lodi is all too commonly misunderstood and dismissed.
Acquiesce, for one, was amazing, with nearly 2/3 of the tourists joining her club.
@losthighwayz It’s a bit short sighted to judge a region like that. BTW, Onesta makes vineyard specific Rhone varietals 3 of which come from vineyards in Lodi and 1 from a vineyard in Napa… the Mentida isn’t actually from Lodi
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Onesta Wines Mentida White Blend - $38 = 29.68%
I know what you’re saying Lost… but I’d advise to give Lodi a glance… There was a time when I had the same reaction. But I’ve tasted some recent offerings from producers I respect (like Bedrock, Arnot-Roberts and Scholium Project)… some seriously interesting and head-turning wines, made with Lodi fruit. (Mind you, I haven’t tasted this particular wine.)
@neilfindswine Will need to give the producers you mentioned a try! There’s a taste I cannot put my finger on that runs across all red Lodi wines I have tasted that does not sit well with me. Let me think about it to see if I can put it into words sometime during this offer!
I’m not the white wine drinker in this house, but the wife liked the previous Onesta offering (https://casemates.com/forum/topics/onesta-grenache-blanc). I’m sure I tried it, but honestly I can’t remember a darn thing about it. Looking forward to any rats on this!
I was selected to be a lab rat for this wine so we tried it over a couple nights this weekend. The bottle suggests pairing this wine with buttered popcorn and your favorite tv series so that’s what we did for our first glasses. Upon opening, we smelled citrus fruit, peach, pineapple and melon notes. First taste was fruity and full-bodied, with a little bit of alcohol warmth at the swallow. The wine tasted sweet to me but my wife thought that it might be that the peach and other flavors were fooling me into thinking it was sweeter than it actually is. If the winery could chime in with the residual sugar in this one I would appreciate it. When we tried it with the popcorn, the fruitiness became more subdued and we tasted some buttery vanilla notes that made me think (wrongly) there was some chardonnay in the blend. The second day we paired with a cheese plate and it was especially nice with a sharp aged cheddar. I think this would be a good beach or porch wine on a warm day because it is so fruity and refreshing; to me it was a little out of place as an accompaniment to television on a cool fall evening.
Howdy, Casemates! Just want to chime in quickly and suggest y’all watch the video Jillian made for this wine and Casemates, it will give you a better understanding of this wine and why we call it Mentida (guilty pleasure). Also, I would suggest not being so quick to dismiss anything from Lodi… the world used to do that with Napa & Sonoma. That said, I don’t recall saying this wine actually came from Lodi or even writing that. It’s actually made from 3 different counties which is why it’s labeled California White Wine Onesta’s original location was Lodi but production has since moved to Napa. Also, Onesta focuses on vineyard specific Rhone Varietals and 3 of those vineyards are in Lodi and 1 is in Napa… Mentida is well, watch the video Cheers!
@onesta specs page and winery write up on home page never mentioned wine is Not from Lodi. I think it is safe most would assume wine was from Lodi grapes since write up says winery is in Lodi, Ca
Looks like I have struck a nerve with some peeps on here. First off, everyone is entitled to an opinion myself included. I have tasted enough reds from Lodi to know I am not a fan in general. There’s something to be said about terroir, right? I may not be sophisticated enough or have deep pockets to have tried as many wines from the region as others but I know what I like and Lodi is not on that list. That being said, I have not had a white wine from Lodi so always willing to try something new (though today’s offer turned out to be a non Lodi which makes it very tempting).
Peace out and don’t be so quick to jump the gun people!
@kaolis I never said anyone bashed me and besides, everyone interprets statements differently, wouldn’t you agree? “Woefully misinformed” and “short-sighted” could be interpreted different ways, don’t you think? Be well.
@Boatman72@PatrickKarcher Quick maybe not, maybe has a summer in front of it and I’m no expert but if I’m a buyer, I’m a drinker. It might hold, but better??? 2017 is current offer
@Boatman72 Jillian here from Mentida…the white Mentida will drink well for at least another 2 years. It will continue to develop more floral character as it ages. But no harm in drinking it right now!
@kaolis Oh, I know that, but my question was based on some whites are consumed within two years of being produced. Since I’m basically a dry red wine consumer and I have about 5 cases of Casemate dry white wine, so do I pass on this, buy the short order, or dive in for a case?
Anyway, since I really liked Jillian’s other Onesta wines, I jumped on a case!!
I haven’t listened to the broadcast yet, so maybe this is touched upon there. I was intrigued by this in the description of the wine:
Mentida, or guilty pleasure, is Jillian Johnson DeLeon’s polarizing new brand that embodies how many wine lovers enjoy a delicious bottle of wine. These are wines that you don’t have to swirl and discuss, no wine notes needed or wine snobbery. No contemplating the soil profile of the vineyard, the weather that year, or the type of barrel used, just pure unrefined pleasure in each bottle. Don your mask and indulge in Mentida, your newest guilty pleasure.
“Polarizing” is what got my attention, and I was wondering, why polarizing? B/c a serious winery “shouldn’t” make wines for popular tastes? Or what?
@InFrom hello, Jillian from Mentida here to explain “polarizing”…my first brand, Onesta Wines, is all vineyard designate wines that speak of a specific place. My new brand, Mentida, will be blends of unique varieties from different places. With Mentida, its not the about the vineyard, it’s about the balance of the blend, the harmony of the wine.
Rat convinced me! Hope the wife likes it…case price should make this a great daily drinker, hopefully better than the cheap Pinot Grigio she usually drinks as a daily drinker.
/giphy good-conventional-hen
We forgot to mention that we only made 98 cases of this first Mentida White. That is a super small batch of wine! Casemates are getting the first opportunity to purchase this inaugural release of Mentida. I don’t think that happens often. We are super happy to celebrate with you and share our excitement with our new wine. Drink and enjoy.
@WineDocNapa Jillian, I really would like to thank you for chiming in on this offer!! When the vintners chime in and discuss their wine like you have done, it gives us a confident feeling that a lot of thought, effort, and skill went into growing, selecting, and producing a great bottle of wine! It makes us want to BUY!!!
@pmarin Exactly! There is not much out there, you will not find this available in stores…if you all order 98 cases, then this will be an exclusive wine just for Casemates wine lovers
October 12, 2018, 8:55 PM. Kitchen.
Today, was a great day. Spend the day with my family, doing things that were fun. What could be better? I’ll tell you, some wine. Having recently been delivered a fresh bottle of Mentida White Blend, my wife and I decided to try the new wine while watching Hallmark Movies (A guilty pleasure for most, I’m sure). After the uncorking ( a real cork, btw, which impressed me), I carefully poured the liquid sustenance into Yeti wine glasses. How nice, it was a refreshing 57.4 degrees of Fahrenheit. The color of which reminded me so of #FFFAC8 (or pale straw). Clear and vibrant. Hints of peach and sweetness upon the nose. I could smell the residual sugars. Uh oh. As fans of dry wine, I wasn’t sure how well this might go, but nonetheless we sat down and proceeded with sappy love movies. I took a sip. Smooth, with hints of black pepper (not listed on the bottle, but I got that hit). To me, it fell more into a semi-sweet than a super sweet. Oddly enough, there wasn’t the “lip-smacking dryness of the residual sugar” I typically associate to sweet wines after having consumed it (but maybe I’m just odd). 8/10 (4/5 for those who like reductions) would drink again. I’d also find ways to pair this with such foods as an Apple Baked Pork Chop, or perhaps a Pineapple Chutney Chicken Salad. Mmmmm. Delicious.
October 18, 2018, 6:21 AM. Undisclosed location. Having seen the reminder email from casemates, I was suddenly thrust into a mode of panic as the realization that I missed my posting date dawned upon my furrowed brow. Having been entrusted with such responsibility, I feel now remorse at the lack of remembrance.
@alacercogitatus@sandbarhappy Exactly, no residual sugar in this wine. It’s the Viognier that lends a sweetness sensation to the wine - very fruit forward with a nice silky finish.
Jillian, I took that same class at U.C. Davis (I think it was Vit 3 if I recall). About 20 years earlier, though. Sadly I ended up being a software engineer instead. About 10 years ago I toured the community college in Walla-Walla and almost considered changing careers…
@pmarin Vit 3 at UCDavis was the class that converted me from neurobiology to winemaking. A software engineer is a good choice given our current success with tech - or should I say, addiction to tech.
@corrado great idea! Pine Ridge has done very will with their white blend. Both wines are filled with stone fruits and tropical aromas. The Pine Ridge blend has gotten noticeably sweeter over the last couple vintages, it has significant RS that gives a rich full body to the wine, but also masks the acidity. The Mentida White has no RS and has a brighter acid profile. It would be really fun to taste them side by side.
I hope that helps!
@WineDocNapa …and that I will do. I haven’t been as diligent with my notes, but I do recall that the recent iteration I had was still delicious, but less crisp than my initial impression from a decade or so ago.
I was just noticing the sales maps (a cool feature on the main page.) Many people don’t know you can click on a state and get local county maps for sales. (I didn’t know until somebody mentioned it in a message one day.)
What I thought was interesting is that there is a purchase from I what looks like Walla-Walla. I wouldn’t be surprised if a winemaker there (as you know there are lots in Walla-Walla) is buying it to maybe sample some and get some ideas. Here in Pacific NW there are a lot more winemakers willing to use non-traditional varietals and blends instead of the “standard, commercial” wines. I’m looking forward to trying the California (not Lodi, we’ve already been through that) interpretation of it.
Woe, my wife loves this, slow sippin’ while watching back seasons of Elementary after she comes back from work late on Thur/Fri nights. This was a winner.
Tasting Notes
Mentida White shines with flavors of passion fruit, pineapple, and Meyer lemon, balanced acidity and a full-bodied texture. Every sip brings memories of your toes in the sand. A perfect accompaniment with buttered popcorn and your favorite TV series.
Food pairings: Truffle popcorn, cheese plate, linguini & clams, shrimp with lemon butter sauce, roast chicken, spicy Thai food, and Lays classic potato chips
Winemaker Notes
Mentida, or guilty pleasure, is Jillian Johnson DeLeon’s polarizing new brand that embodies how many wine lovers enjoy a delicious bottle of wine. These are wines that you don’t have to swirl and discuss, no wine notes needed or wine snobbery. No contemplating the soil profile of the vineyard, the weather that year, or the type of barrel used, just pure unrefined pleasure in each bottle. Don your mask and indulge in Mentida, your newest guilty pleasure.
– Jillian Johnson DeLeon
Specifications
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $240/case at the winery
About The Winery
Winery: Onesta Wines
Owner: Jillian Johnson DeLeon
Location: Lodi, CA
Jillian found her passion for wine while studying neurobiology at UC Davis. Home brewing introduced her to the magic of fermentation, and after taking the “Introductory to Winemaking” class at UC Davis, she quickly switched her major to Viticulture and Enology. She graduated with her degree in 2001 and soon thereafter found herself as an intern at the famous Bonny Doon Winery.
Her desire to learn more about winemaking has taken her around the globe. To gain essential winemaking experience in a short time, Jillian traveled to the southern hemisphere to work an additional harvest each year. For three years she traveled south to learn how to work with different varieties and observe different winemaking styles. She did internships in McLaren Vale (South Australia), Margaret River (Western Australia), and Stellenbosch (South Africa).
Syrah quickly became her deepest passion and she returned to Bonny Doon as Associate Winemaker in 2005, focusing her talents on the Rhone varieties that the Dooner is known for. She played a major role in the transition to biodynamic winemaking at Bonny Doon. Now a truly seasoned winemaker, Jillian has started her own passion project, Onesta. Her artistic expression is manifested in her wines. Jillian’s wines speak the truth of each growing season and each vintage is a new adventure for her, riding the waves of Mother Nature. Her promise to herself and her customers is to deliver wines with personality and depth every year. Jillian’s wines are made with passion and love, just like she lives her life. Her hope is that every sip of Onesta will ignite the soul with passion and enthusiasm for living life to the fullest.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, November 8th - Monday, November 12th
Mentida White Blend by Onesta Wines
6 bottles for $63.99 $10.67/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $89.99 $7.50/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2016 Mentida White Blend
@ilCesare how can I buy this
@CMMH Unless you know of someone who has a case, you need to wait to see if it ever comes up again.
@CMMH @danandlisa Or visit the winery.
@CMMH @danandlisa You can try contacting the winery, see the bottom post, where the winery says
Sounded great until…Lodi
@losthighwayz You totally missed out and are seemingly woefully misinformed.
Lodi rocked with some outstanding producers and bottles when we toured there earlier.
Lodi is all too commonly misunderstood and dismissed.
Acquiesce, for one, was amazing, with nearly 2/3 of the tourists joining her club.
@losthighwayz It’s a bit short sighted to judge a region like that. BTW, Onesta makes vineyard specific Rhone varietals 3 of which come from vineyards in Lodi and 1 from a vineyard in Napa… the Mentida isn’t actually from Lodi
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Onesta Wines Mentida White Blend - $38 = 29.68%
I know what you’re saying Lost… but I’d advise to give Lodi a glance… There was a time when I had the same reaction. But I’ve tasted some recent offerings from producers I respect (like Bedrock, Arnot-Roberts and Scholium Project)… some seriously interesting and head-turning wines, made with Lodi fruit. (Mind you, I haven’t tasted this particular wine.)
@neilfindswine Will need to give the producers you mentioned a try! There’s a taste I cannot put my finger on that runs across all red Lodi wines I have tasted that does not sit well with me. Let me think about it to see if I can put it into words sometime during this offer!
For a while (over ten years ago) I often smelled Eucalyptus in Lodi reds. That could just be me and/or the wines I had though.
@losthighwayz @neilfindswine Asparagus?
I’m not the white wine drinker in this house, but the wife liked the previous Onesta offering (https://casemates.com/forum/topics/onesta-grenache-blanc). I’m sure I tried it, but honestly I can’t remember a darn thing about it. Looking forward to any rats on this!
/giphy waiting for rats
I really enjoyed the Onesta Cinsault. This appears to be a great QPR wine, would love someone to chime in with experience.
I was selected to be a lab rat for this wine so we tried it over a couple nights this weekend. The bottle suggests pairing this wine with buttered popcorn and your favorite tv series so that’s what we did for our first glasses. Upon opening, we smelled citrus fruit, peach, pineapple and melon notes. First taste was fruity and full-bodied, with a little bit of alcohol warmth at the swallow. The wine tasted sweet to me but my wife thought that it might be that the peach and other flavors were fooling me into thinking it was sweeter than it actually is. If the winery could chime in with the residual sugar in this one I would appreciate it. When we tried it with the popcorn, the fruitiness became more subdued and we tasted some buttery vanilla notes that made me think (wrongly) there was some chardonnay in the blend. The second day we paired with a cheese plate and it was especially nice with a sharp aged cheddar. I think this would be a good beach or porch wine on a warm day because it is so fruity and refreshing; to me it was a little out of place as an accompaniment to television on a cool fall evening.
Hello, actually no residual sugar in there
@onesta Thanks!
Howdy, Casemates! Just want to chime in quickly and suggest y’all watch the video Jillian made for this wine and Casemates, it will give you a better understanding of this wine and why we call it Mentida (guilty pleasure). Also, I would suggest not being so quick to dismiss anything from Lodi… the world used to do that with Napa & Sonoma. That said, I don’t recall saying this wine actually came from Lodi or even writing that. It’s actually made from 3 different counties which is why it’s labeled California White Wine
Onesta’s original location was Lodi but production has since moved to Napa. Also, Onesta focuses on vineyard specific Rhone Varietals and 3 of those vineyards are in Lodi and 1 is in Napa… Mentida is well, watch the video 
Cheers!
@onesta specs page and winery write up on home page never mentioned wine is Not from Lodi. I think it is safe most would assume wine was from Lodi grapes since write up says winery is in Lodi, Ca
Looks like I have struck a nerve with some peeps on here. First off, everyone is entitled to an opinion myself included. I have tasted enough reds from Lodi to know I am not a fan in general. There’s something to be said about terroir, right? I may not be sophisticated enough or have deep pockets to have tried as many wines from the region as others but I know what I like and Lodi is not on that list. That being said, I have not had a white wine from Lodi so always willing to try something new (though today’s offer turned out to be a non Lodi which makes it very tempting).
Peace out and don’t be so quick to jump the gun people!
@losthighwayz and other SoCal folks. I would take 2 or 3 bottles if there is interest in a split. It might even arrive in time for the gathering
@davirom PM for you
@losthighwayz
Lost quit trying our nerves! you should know you are not allowed to like what you like
@losthighwayz No one bashed you, just offered differing opinions on Lodi. Geez, peace out is right
@kaolis I never said anyone bashed me and besides, everyone interprets statements differently, wouldn’t you agree? “Woefully misinformed” and “short-sighted” could be interpreted different ways, don’t you think? Be well.
@ScottW58 right!?!
@losthighwayz Was just teasing, perhaps it was a woefully short-sighted attempt
Cheers!
@kaolis haha great play on words. All good.
Anyone know the drinking window on this white? What type of fermentation and barrel/stainless steel aging did this wine have?
@Boatman72 Just guessing on drinking window, but I’m thinking basically drink me, love me
Don’t think you are buying this to age
@Boatman72 @kaolis The Sauv Blanc makes me think best to drink it quick, but the Chenin Blanc makes me wonder.
@Boatman72 @PatrickKarcher Quick maybe not, maybe has a summer in front of it and I’m no expert but if I’m a buyer, I’m a drinker. It might hold, but better??? 2017 is current offer
@Boatman72 Jillian here from Mentida…the white Mentida will drink well for at least another 2 years. It will continue to develop more floral character as it ages. But no harm in drinking it right now!
@kaolis Oh, I know that, but my question was based on some whites are consumed within two years of being produced. Since I’m basically a dry red wine consumer and I have about 5 cases of Casemate dry white wine, so do I pass on this, buy the short order, or dive in for a case?
Anyway, since I really liked Jillian’s other Onesta wines, I jumped on a case!!
Kaolis, thanks for your input!!
@WineDocNapa Jillian, thanks for the input! Glad I bought a case! Your description is how I like my whites to develop over a year or two!
I haven’t listened to the broadcast yet, so maybe this is touched upon there. I was intrigued by this in the description of the wine:
“Polarizing” is what got my attention, and I was wondering, why polarizing? B/c a serious winery “shouldn’t” make wines for popular tastes? Or what?
@InFrom hello, Jillian from Mentida here to explain “polarizing”…my first brand, Onesta Wines, is all vineyard designate wines that speak of a specific place. My new brand, Mentida, will be blends of unique varieties from different places. With Mentida, its not the about the vineyard, it’s about the balance of the blend, the harmony of the wine.
Rat convinced me! Hope the wife likes it…case price should make this a great daily drinker, hopefully better than the cheap Pinot Grigio she usually drinks as a daily drinker.
/giphy good-conventional-hen
We forgot to mention that we only made 98 cases of this first Mentida White. That is a super small batch of wine! Casemates are getting the first opportunity to purchase this inaugural release of Mentida. I don’t think that happens often. We are super happy to celebrate with you and share our excitement with our new wine. Drink and enjoy.
@losthighwayz should really like this one then.
@WineDocNapa Jillian, I really would like to thank you for chiming in on this offer!! When the vintners chime in and discuss their wine like you have done, it gives us a confident feeling that a lot of thought, effort, and skill went into growing, selecting, and producing a great bottle of wine! It makes us want to BUY!!!
@WineDocNapa Heck, 98 cases. I better get mine now. Standby for order!
@pmarin Exactly! There is not much out there, you will not find this available in stores…if you all order 98 cases, then this will be an exclusive wine just for Casemates wine lovers
@rjquillin you know me too well! Under 100 cases plus non Lodi fruit? I am in!
October 12, 2018, 8:55 PM. Kitchen.
Today, was a great day. Spend the day with my family, doing things that were fun. What could be better? I’ll tell you, some wine. Having recently been delivered a fresh bottle of Mentida White Blend, my wife and I decided to try the new wine while watching Hallmark Movies (A guilty pleasure for most, I’m sure). After the uncorking ( a real cork, btw, which impressed me), I carefully poured the liquid sustenance into Yeti wine glasses. How nice, it was a refreshing 57.4 degrees of Fahrenheit. The color of which reminded me so of #FFFAC8 (or pale straw). Clear and vibrant. Hints of peach and sweetness upon the nose. I could smell the residual sugars. Uh oh. As fans of dry wine, I wasn’t sure how well this might go, but nonetheless we sat down and proceeded with sappy love movies. I took a sip. Smooth, with hints of black pepper (not listed on the bottle, but I got that hit). To me, it fell more into a semi-sweet than a super sweet. Oddly enough, there wasn’t the “lip-smacking dryness of the residual sugar” I typically associate to sweet wines after having consumed it (but maybe I’m just odd). 8/10 (4/5 for those who like reductions) would drink again. I’d also find ways to pair this with such foods as an Apple Baked Pork Chop, or perhaps a Pineapple Chutney Chicken Salad. Mmmmm. Delicious.
October 18, 2018, 6:21 AM. Undisclosed location. Having seen the reminder email from casemates, I was suddenly thrust into a mode of panic as the realization that I missed my posting date dawned upon my furrowed brow. Having been entrusted with such responsibility, I feel now remorse at the lack of remembrance.
@alacercogitatus
Your confusion about the RS is explained by the fact that there isn’t an, according to the winemaker. Just super fruit!
@alacercogitatus @sandbarhappy Exactly, no residual sugar in this wine. It’s the Viognier that lends a sweetness sensation to the wine - very fruit forward with a nice silky finish.
Although we managed to pick up the very nice Cinsault, it looks like IL has slipped off the ship list.
Jillian, I took that same class at U.C. Davis (I think it was Vit 3 if I recall). About 20 years earlier, though. Sadly I ended up being a software engineer instead. About 10 years ago I toured the community college in Walla-Walla and almost considered changing careers…
/giphy discordant-ostentatious-rhinoceros
@pmarin Vit 3 at UCDavis was the class that converted me from neurobiology to winemaking. A software engineer is a good choice given our current success with tech - or should I say, addiction to tech.
Did you know that Viognier made the list of the 9 noble white grape varieties? It might be #8 on the list, but Chardonnay is #9!!
@WineDocNapa https://winefolly.com/update/the-18-noble-grapes-wine-challenge/
Rats and @WineDocNapa participating in the forum put me over the edge and had to go in for one of the 89 cases!
/giphy awesome-legal-mosquito
/giphy doubtful-brave-louse
@Onesta, can you compare this with Pine Ridge’s Chenin Blanc/Viognier blend?
@corrado great idea! Pine Ridge has done very will with their white blend. Both wines are filled with stone fruits and tropical aromas. The Pine Ridge blend has gotten noticeably sweeter over the last couple vintages, it has significant RS that gives a rich full body to the wine, but also masks the acidity. The Mentida White has no RS and has a brighter acid profile. It would be really fun to taste them side by side.
I hope that helps!
@WineDocNapa …and that I will do. I haven’t been as diligent with my notes, but I do recall that the recent iteration I had was still delicious, but less crisp than my initial impression from a decade or so ago.
I’ll bite on this for a case.
/giphy afraid-jumbled-cinnamon
I was just noticing the sales maps (a cool feature on the main page.) Many people don’t know you can click on a state and get local county maps for sales. (I didn’t know until somebody mentioned it in a message one day.)
What I thought was interesting is that there is a purchase from I what looks like Walla-Walla. I wouldn’t be surprised if a winemaker there (as you know there are lots in Walla-Walla) is buying it to maybe sample some and get some ideas. Here in Pacific NW there are a lot more winemakers willing to use non-traditional varietals and blends instead of the “standard, commercial” wines. I’m looking forward to trying the California (not Lodi, we’ve already been through that) interpretation of it.
@pmarin wow. I never thought to click on the map!
If anyone around NYC might part with a few bottles, lmk.
In for one case and splitting with my 562 neighbors!
/giphy discouraged-just-cup
/giphy droopy-wandering-honeydew
in for a case sounds yummy
Forgot to come back this. If anyone from Atlanta grabbed a case and is willing to part with a few bottles let me know.
@Cynamon me too! Curious about it, their red was so good
Woe, my wife loves this, slow sippin’ while watching back seasons of Elementary after she comes back from work late on Thur/Fri nights. This was a winner.
@irenegade email grady@onestawines.com