| "The Tocai Friulano Borgo Buon Natale is gorgeous. Supple, radiant and generous, it offers terrific depth and textural richness. Apricot, peach pit, chamomile and lightly honeyed notes infuse the creamy, expressive finish. This is a terrific expression of Tocai."-- Antonio Galloni, Vinous |
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These are strange times we're living in right now. While I've certainly taken the apocalyptic atmosphere as an excuse to open some bottles I'd planned to save, I mostly find myself craving wines that have slam-dunk deliciousness rather than aspirations to greatness. And it certainly helps if they're affordable enough to open multiple bottles a week of them. The Clendenen Family Vineyards Tocai Friulano "Borgo Buon Natale" from California's Santa Maria Valley has these qualities in spades. It's the white I keep grabbing, and craving when I'm drinking something else.
Jim Clendenen is a legend of California winemaking, one of the true pioneers. Jim put Santa Barbara County on the world wine map with his incredible Au Bon Climat bottlings. And even though he's widely regarded as one of the best producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the world, he also has a relentless experimental streak. Clendenen Family Vineyards is his passion project that allows him to push the boundaries of what California does. Under the label, he makes wines from varieties as disparate as Nebbiolo, Aligote, and Mondeuse. If this wine is any indication, Tocai Friulano has a bright future ahead of it in California.
Tocai Friulano – totally different from the similar-sounding Hungarian sweet wine – is one of the most important varieties of Friuli in Italy's northeast corner, and is one of the parent grapes of Sauvignon Blanc. Good Tocai Friulano combines fleshy body with bright acidity and most often shows notes of citrus, white flowers, and bitter almond. This bottling has all of that but turned up to 11. It's like the California sun has just cranked the volume on the variety, with an extra dose of stone fruit and floral character, and a heightened interplay between richness and crispness.
This is a wine for any night of the week, and it's exciting! There are not many wines this interesting, we can enjoy this much at this price-- especially from Cali, where prices are often out of reach. In these uncertain times, wines like these are what we need: easily delicious and the sort of thing you can pop any time, knowing everyone will be happy.
To purchase, please check out online here. Shipping, curbside pickup, and free local delivery are available (on orders over $60). As always, you can respond back here with any questions!
Wine is in stock, with more arriving next week
1) Clendenen Family Vineyards Tocai Friulano "Borgo Buon Natale" 2016 750ml
Sale Price: $20.99/btl!! BUY NOW
3-Pack Price: $19.99/btl!!
6-Pack Price: $17.99/btl!!
91 pts, Vinous Media: "The Tocai Friulano Borgo Buon Natale is gorgeous. Supple, radiant and generous, it offers terrific depth and textural richness. Apricot, peach pit, chamomile and lightly honeyed notes infuse the creamy, expressive finish. This is a terrific expression of Tocai." |
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