Rombauer

Pour your friends a glass of Rombauer Sauvignon Blanc, and smiles and appreciative murmurs are sure to follow. Aromatically exciting and with flavors so fresh, crisp, and layered, one sip leads to another. The winery is hailing the 2021 vintage because “the dry conditions delivered fruit full of flavor and bursting with aromas of lime zest, lychee, grapefruit, and white peach. It’s mouthwatering, thirst-quenching, and downright delicious.” A blend of Napa Valley and Sonoma County vineyards, it was fermented largely in stainless steel with about 10% fermenting in barrel and 4% in concrete. A taste starts with lively notes on the nose (lime, citrus, white flowers) and continues through the mouthwatering midpalate and long finish where flavors of pink grapefruit and tart apple evolve into secondary notes of lemon-lime and chalky minerality. This is an excellent food wine. It will rock with guacamole, teriyaki shrimp, or pad Thai.

While Rombauer Chardonnay is reputed to be juicy rich, ripe and buttery – i.e. a style that epitomizes “California” – it’s usually a hit with both critics and die-hard fans. For beyond the fruit forward notes of baked apple, citrus and spice, Rombauer’s Carneros Chardonnay is balanced, fresh and food-friendly. Rather than make a wine that will reach perfection in ten years, Rombauer suggests, “Why not make it taste good right off the bat?” As in previous years, the wine is attractive and smooth, with nuances of peach, citrus, pie crust, and a deliciously creamy texture. Recommended pairings include fettuccine with salmon and asparagus or even a roast turkey with herbs and gravy.

While Rombauer Chardonnay is reputed to be juicy rich, ripe and buttery – i.e. a style that epitomizes “California” – it’s usually a hit with both critics and die-hard fans. For beyond the fruit forward notes of baked apple, citrus and spice, Rombauer’s Carneros Chardonnay is balanced, fresh and food-friendly. Rather than make a wine that will reach perfection in ten years, Rombauer suggests, “Why not make it taste good right off the bat?” As in previous years, the wine is attractive and smooth, with nuances of peach, citrus, pie crust, and a deliciously creamy texture. Recommended pairings include fettuccine with salmon and asparagus or even a roast turkey with herbs and gravy.

This Zin is a richly-layered, exuberant, and full-bodied wine that zaps you with flavors that seem to go on for days. The 2020 growing season was long, dry, and mild, producing excellent Zinfandel, especially in vineyards in the Sierra foothills that were far from the fires in Napa County. Sourced from old-vine vineyards in Amador, (44%), El Dorado (43%), Lake, (8%), and Napa (5%) counties, this Zinfandel is so seductive, plush and velvety, you might not notice it also packs a punch with 15.9% ABV! As the winery puts it, “The wine bursts with bright fruit aromas of cherry and red plum, with notes of vanilla, holiday spices, and lavender all jumping out on the nose. Plum flavors continue to the palate, joined by layers of raspberry jam, mocha, clove, and white pepper. The mid palate is soft and creamy, framed by fine tannins and ending with a long, lush finish which will leave you wanting another sip.” Given the exuberant character of this wine, a few minutes on ice or in the fridge before serving will tone down the alcohol and enhance the complex aromas and flavors - especially on a warm afternoon or evening!

While the rolling hills of Carneros are well-known as a land of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Carneros Merlot has been on a roll — and earning high scores, too. The cool climate and clay soils inspire compelling dark and red fruit flavors, savory spice and earthy notes, as well as excellent acidity and tannin structure. As in a right-bank Bordeaux, this wine is not 100% Merlot but includes 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot for additional tannin and structure. Uniquely, Rombauer strives for additional richness by fermenting some of the must in barrel, a troublesome process that few wineries would undertake with their red wines. The result is a Merlot that is plush and pure, soft and supple, a versatile wine that pairs well with such meat dishes as seared pork chops, braised lamb, as well as vegetarian dishes with meaty mushrooms. 

Purple-black in hue and brimming with bold cherry, blackberry and spice, Rombauer Cabernet is is about as “Napa Valley” as it gets. Sourced from vineyards in St. Helena, Calistoga, Oakville, Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, and Carneros AVAs, this Cab combines extraordinary terroir and exquisite craft. Each year, a significant portion of the wine is barrel-fermented, which, with red wines, is a difficult, labor-intensive, even risky process. Instead of punching down or pumping over, each barrel has to be rolled by hand throughout the maceration. However, the reward lies in the rich and silky mouthfeel and in the early-drinkability of the wine. That Rombauer barrel-ferments even this higher-volume bottling is yet one more example of the value the winery seeks to give its customers. Try this complex, fruit-driven wine with grilled steaks, rack of lamb, or braised beef shanks.