St Francis White Splash 2011

stfranciswhitesplash2011The 2011 St Francis White Splash is a blend of Muscat, Gewurztraminer, Roussanne and Pinot Grigio along with lesser amounts of Malvasia and Marsanne sourced from vineyards in more than one California grape growing AVA. St Francis established its vineyard in 1971 and open the winery in 1979, they specialize in Sonoma based wines, White Splash along with Red Splash is their entry level brand. This blend sees no oak conditioning, it is fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. The alcohol content is 13%.

The color is extra virgin olive oil yellow with a slight green tint. The nose is complex, each time you swirl and sniff another aroma takes the lead, there is melon, pineapple, golden delicious apple, lime, Meyer lemon and magnolia and more. This is not a blend of grapes that you come across every day, there are flavors happening in your glass in rather unique combinations. The silky, sexy textures of Marsanne and Roussanne, the rounded sweetness of Muscat, the rich ripe pear of Malvasia, the crisp citrus of Pinot Grigio and the honey and peach from the Gewurztraminer. This wine is lush and nectar sweet. The acidity is balanced and the finish is full and lengthy.

The 2011 St Francis White Splash is a unique drinking experience, there is a dizzying array of sweet  and dry flavors, tart citrus, juicy, ripe fruit and exotic tastes. It would pair well with spicy fish and seafood dishes from New Orleans or spicy noodle dishes from China, but it is kind of cool to just drink on its own.

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