MARCH 2021 WINE 1: SAUVIGNON BLANC DOMAINE MARTIN PIERRE CHAVIGNOL SANCERRE '19

QUICK STATS AROMAS & FLAVORS lemon. freshly cut grass. asparagus. crisp yellow apple. wet stone. Low ACIDITY High SIMILAR TO: Albariño

One of the first elements you may note with this wine is Bone Dry SWEETNESS Sweet the racy high acidity and the puckering it creates in your mouth. This should narrow you down to high acidity wines: Albariño, Riesling, Gruner Veltliner, Chenin Blanc, COLOR and Sauvignon Blanc. The grassy aroma should lead you away from Riesling, which is typically characterized by stone fruits and petrol aromas. Found in Northern Low BODY High France, the region of Sancerre creates Sauvignon Blanc that has cool-climate fruit characteristics. Chavignol, the subregion, has famous steep slopes and high Low ALCOHOL High kimmerigian limestone content that result in crisp acidity 14% and the wet stone aromas found in this wine.

WINE 2: CHARDONNAY RAMEY RUSSIAN RIVER CHARDONNAY 2018

AROMAS & FLAVORS QUICK STATS ripe melon. toasted bread. lemon zest. white blosson. juicy apricot. Low ACIDITY High

SIMILAR TO: Chenin Blanc

One of the distinguishing characteristics of this white Bone Dry SWEETNESS Sweet wine is the toasted notes, indicating presence of oak aging. Only a few white varietals tend to be aged in oak, although exceptions exist. Specifically, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and Pinot Grigio classically COLOR receive oak treatment. However, Pinot Grigio tends to be lighter in color than both Chardonnay and Chenin Low BODY High Blanc. When deciding between Chardonnay and Chenin, focus on the acidity, which is lower in

Chardonnay. Additionally, Chenin is often Low ALCOHOL High characterized by funky cheesy flavors, whereas this 14.5% Chardonnay leans more towards toast.

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QUICK STATS AROMAS & FLAVORS

wild blueberry. tart cherry. licorice. vanilla. pulled toffee. Low TANNIN High SIMILAR TO: Zinfandel

Although grown in Europe, Tempranillo tends to be Red FRUIT TYPE Black/Purple aged in American oak because of Spanish tradition. As a result, the wine has aromas and flavors of dill and vanilla, which may be reminiscent of many California wines like COLOR Zinfandel. To differentiate, focus on the moderate fruit quality (not too jammy) that are associated with a cooler climate. This wine lacks the characteristic spice aromas Low BODY High of Italy and the forest floor aromas of France. Tempranillo also has a savory quality - a little soy sauce, umami, or even gamey flavor. While the red fruit is Low ALCOHOL High definitely fresher than Zinfandel, it's the balance of fruit 13.5% and savory that make Tempranillo so tasty.

WINE 4: ZINFANDEL RIDGE LYTTON SPRINGS 2018

AROMAS & FLAVORS QUICK STATS juicy black cherry. leather. black pepper. red plum. chocolate. smoke. Low TANNIN High

SIMILAR TO: Merlot

One of the keys to Zinfandel is the fruit quality; since the Red FRUIT TYPE Black/Purple Zinfandel grape often ripens unevenly, a single wine can have a range of fruit quality from underripe to very ripe and jammy. This wine is high quality so the variation is COLOR less extreme, but the ripe notes are still present. The fruitiness and silky quality of this wine should lead the taster to the New World, and the depth of fruits point Low BODY High away from the lighter Pinot Noir. While Merlot is a viable guess for this wine due to the similarity in fruit profile, Zinfandel tends to be higher in alcohol. This specific Low ALCOHOL High wine is also comprised of 18% Petite Sirah, which adds a 14.5% black fruit element and increases complexity. FOR MORE WINE CONTENT, FOLLOW US @LIFETIMEVINTAGE FOR MORE WINE CONTENT, FOLLOW US @LIFETIMEVINTAGE