Since I love it when there’s a chemistry between what’s happening in the news and what I find in my glass, the fact that I tried the 2009 Big House White ($9.95 – $13.22) the same day Lindsay Lohan began her time as a guest of the California penal system wasn’t lost on me.
Originally created by iconic California winemaker Randall Graham as part of his Bonny Doon family of wines, the Big House line (that also includes a red and pink version) was sold to another company a few years ago.
Named for nearby Soledad State Prison in Monterey County, the white is an eclectic mob of grape varieties that includes chenin blanc, sauvignon blanc and viognier, to name a few. The mix creates a über fragrant wine with a juicy, citrus-meets-tropical flavour and surprisingly Mediterranean sensibility.
If you prefer your sauvignon blanc all by its lonesome, the 2009 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc ($16.95 – $20.37) from New Zealand is rich and full-bodied with a lengthy vegetal backbone of asparagus and light gooseberry.
Try both wines with shellfish (especially crab), meatier white fish, chicken and any dish with a touch of spiciness.
– Peter Rockwell is the everyman’s wine writer, working in the liquor industry for more than 25 years and travelling the globe looking for something to fill his glass and put into words.
