Tasting Report: Central Coast Whites

This short tasting report is the last of my reports on Central Coast whites from tasting late last year. Most of the wines are either Rhone varieties or Sauvignon Blanc.

Pure Viogniers really do it for me from the Central Coast. It’s hard to generalize about which areas are better. I tend to like rich yet crisp styles that remind me of the Northern Rhone in structure. Alban Vineyards, Cold Heaven and Nagy seem to be in that general.

Rhone inspired blends from the winery Sanguis are a little thicker and richer than the straight Viogniers, but I couldn’t help but give them outstanding scores for their opulence and deliciousness.

Also tasted, but not receiving marks of 90 points or more:

2009 Clavo Cellars Viognier Paso Robles Apparition 2010 Clayhouse Central Coast Adobe White 2010 Cold Heaven Viognier Santa Barbara County Le Bon Climat Vineyard 2009 Dragonette Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Happy Canyon Vogelzang Vineyard 2010 Kaena Grenache Rose Santa Ynez Valley  2009 Martian Grenache Blanc Santa Ynez Valley  2009 Refugio Ranch Sauvignon Blanc Santa Ynez Valley Tiradora 2009 Stolpman Santa Ynez Valley La Coppa Blanc 2009 Stolpman Roussanne Santa Ynez Valley L'Avion 2010 Storm Sauvignon Blanc Santa Ynez Valley  2010 Andrew Murray Santa Ynez Valley RGB Camp 4 Vineyard 2009 Dragonette Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Santa Ynez Valley  2010 Foley & Johnson Rose Santa Ynez Valley Dry Rose 2010 Vino V Wines San Luis Obispo County Confundida 2008 Coquelicot Viognier Santa Ynez Valley  2008 Grassini Family Sauvignon Blanc Happy Canyon  2010 Kaena Sauvignon Blanc Santa Ynez Valley Tierra Alta Vineyard 2009 Oreana Sauvignon Blanc Central Coast  2009 Santa Barbara Winery Sauvignon Blanc Santa Ynez Valley  2009 Star Lane Sauvignon Blanc Happy Canyon  2009 Cimarone Sauvignon Blanc Happy Canyon Three Creek Vineyard 2009 Cimarone Viognier Happy Canyon 3VC Vogelzang Vineyard 2010 Foxen Sauvignon Blanc Happy Canyon 7200 Vogelzang Vineyard 2007 Coquelicot Riesling Santa Ynez Valley  2010 Foxen Chenin Blanc Santa Maria Valley Old Vines Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard 2010 Longoria Albarino Santa Ynez Valley Clover Creek Vineyard 2009 Martian Grenache Rose Santa Ynez Valley  2010 La Fenetre Riesling Santa Ynez Valley Dr. Klapper Spatlese Halbtrocken