Winery: Somerset Vineyard & Winery
Product/Varietal: 42% Sauvignon Blanc + 31% Roussanne + 27% Viognier
Vintage: 2019
AVA on Bottle: Temecula Valley
Winemaker: David Raffaele
Rating: 92
How They Describe It
A beautiful fluid synergy is achieved blending these three wine varietals! Aged in 80% neutral oak and 20% French Oak, this wine has inviting floral and tropical notes on the nose delicately balanced by a hint of oak which offers creamy aromas of vanilla with spices of nutmeg and clove. Delightful essences of passion fruit, tangerine, honey and white peach emerge from this full-bodied white wine blend.
How I Describe It
Appearance
If you hadn’t read on the back of the bottle that the Somerset 2019 SRV had spent time in oak, you wouldn’t be able tell by looking at the wine. The color is clear, pale lemon yellow. There’s even perhaps a hint of lime green in the hue.
Nose
White peach, pear, and honeydew melon lead this wine’s aroma profile. Pineapple, freshly baked croissant, honey comb, and tangerine are slightly less intense by comparison, but follow closely behind. Meanwhile, hints of wildflower and rosemary dance around your nose.
Palate
Among the Somerset 2019 SRV’s fruit-forward palate, tart white peach, pineapple and Meyer lemon show most prominently on the tongue. A second sip reveals green pear, honeydew, and brioche. Subtle beeswax and rosewater lend a touch of honeyed body and floriation to the mix.
This a dry wine with medium alcohol (13.6% ABV). Acid is high, and while the 2019 SRV spent time in oak tannins are low to non-existent. Nevertheless, it has a somewhat waxy (in a good way) medium-plus body, bright medium-plus flavor intensity, and a balanced medium-plus finish.
Why is This Wine Special?
This is a wine you’re almost guaranteed to never see from an Old World vineyard. Sauvignon Blanc is most commonly grown in Bordeaux and The Loire in western France, while Roussanne and Viognier are mostly found in the Rhône Valley and Alsace in the east.
Nevertheless, all three varietals have found thriving homes in the Temecula Valley AVA, and Somerset winemaker David Raffaele has done a masterful job blending the three into the 2019 SRV.
To me, the Somerset 2019 SRV comes across as Sauvignon Blanc at its core. From that base, the Roussanne and Viognier build layers of complexity and appeal — similar to other whites blended with these two varietals. The end result is a wine, both refreshing the textured. It’s a testament to the winemaker’s artistry, especially considering this white wine’s youth.
When & How I Would Drink It
First of all, make sure the 2019 SRV is well chilled. The Temecula Valley AVA terroir is outstanding at producing brightly flavored wines. The SRV is no exception, and can stand a chill.
The beautiful thing about this wine is how it takes on the properties of all three varietals. Consequently, it is perfectly suited both for buttery shellfish, like lobster, as well as lighter and herbaceous fare, like herb-crusted salmon and oysters.
The Somerset 2019 SRV would also be superb next to Asian dishes, like pad Thai, pho, and yellow curry.
How to Get It
Order: https://shop.somersetvineyard.com/prod-427970/2019-Srv-136.html
Bottle Price: $30.00 ($24.00 for wine club members)
Cases Produced: 450 cases
Have you tried the Somerset 2019 SRV? How did the tasting notes compare with your experience? Leave a comment below.