2004 Chateau St. Jean Pinot Blanc Robert Young Vineyard

A real sleeper and an underrated varietal in California is St. Jean’s 2004 Pinot Blanc. This wine (which had no exposure to oak) shows beautiful lemon zest, orange marmalade, and ripe pear notes in a crisp, fruit-driven format. It is a tasty, medium-bodied, dry white to drink over the next 1-2 years. There are some terrific values in the Chateau St. Jean portfolio. People complain, with justification, about the high prices of the finest California wines, but this winery releases some offerings that are actually under priced for what’s in the bottle. The values in this portfolio seem obvious, and the winery is to be applauded for that. Tel. (707) 833-4134; Fax (707) 833-4200