Wine Package Klarewijn Podcast #17 USA

Clear Wine Podcast: Clear Wine goes USA!

In the first podcast of 2022, the men of Klare Wijn go to the other side of the ocean: the United States. Not only the land of burgers, but also of wine. From cheap bulk to the absolute top. In the past mainly known for the thick, sweet, screaming wines. That time is long gone. There are also exciting, beautifully crafted and refined wines from the US these days. A lot of wine is made in California in particular, but other areas are also on the rise. An interesting wine country with a fascinating history. It's all discussed in the 17th Klare Wijn Podcast: Clear Wine goes USA! And we drink 4 absolute top wines that you can order here.

Bonny Doon Cigare Volante Blanc - € 24.80

A winemaker who manages traits such as commercial, idiosyncratic,
distinctive and humorous? Randall Grahm (1953) does it with his biodynamic Bonny Doon near Santa Cruz in California, 'one of the best American winemakers'.
First, Randall tried to make good wine after the Burgundian example. The Great American Pinot Noir was a dream, but the pinot is (in that spot) a darn tricky little plant. Since Santa Cruz has a much more Mediterranean climate, Randall decided to try again with the Rhone Valley as a starting point. It earned him the nickname 'the Rhône Ranger' because of the cover of Wine Spectator in which he was portrayed as a cowboy next to a fungus, but with wine bottles in the two holsters.
In the oldest wine region of France, Syrah, Grenache, Roussanne and Marsanne play the leading role in world-famous crus such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Condrieu, Gigondas and, for example, Vacqueyras.
Randell Grahm pays tribute to Châteauneuf-du-Pape with the 'flying cigar' (Le Cigare Volant) with a well-considered blend of Rhone grapes. This one
first Bonny Doon wine became an instant hit in 1986 and is still on the winemaker's map today.

Ramey Russian River Chardonnay - € 42.50

Consistently above the 90-point top scorer from Russian River, the region where the freshest Californian chardonnays come from. This imposing and complex dry white wine is considered a Meursault/puligny clone by the American writing press. Perhaps this Ramey chardonnay is a bit richer. But for burgundy lovers, the spicy citrus and oak aromas are very recognizable, as is the full flavor structure with a long finish.

Pedroncelli Zinfandel - €16.90

When Giovanni (John Sr.) Pedroncelli started his wine business in 1927 by purchasing vineyards, twenty-five-year-old Zinfandel vines were already standing there. New shoots from these canes, the Mother Clone, have since been used for further planting. These nearly 110-year-old vines still provide reproduction, but they also contribute to the blend of this zinfandel! Pedroncelli works according to traditional methods and picks the grapes manually. In addition, the wine stabilizes naturally, during the fifteen months aging in oak barrels. The result: a complex, spicy and full-bodied wine with a great price-quality ratio!

Kutch Sonoma Pinot Noir - €41.35

This irresistible Pinot from Jamie Kutch is what you would call value for money. It may have Sonoma Coast on the label, but this beautiful wine is actually of cru level. Jamie harvests the grapes in single vineyards McDougall Ranch, Bohan & Falstaff. These vineyards are all known for their excellent terroir and ditto wines. As much time and energy as Jamie puts into selecting these optimal cool-climate vineyards, so minimally does he then work in his small wine cellar. The grapes fermented spontaneously, largely still on the bunches for a silky texture. The aging takes place in neutral oak barrels, which contribute to the aging potential, but do not impart a toasty taste to the wine. Pure Pinot in other words, which - just like its maker - is bursting with energy. Highly recommended!