$18.99 at Crush Wine & Spirits in Bryant, Arkansas (AR)
Grapes sourced from Bien Nacido Vineyard. Fermented in stainless steel tank, put through malolactic fermentation to add a little creaminess, and then aged for 6 months in neutral French oak barrels to add some weight and mouth feel without too much oak flavor.
Tropical fruit aromas and flavors with green apple, peach, and melon notes. Creamy mouthfeel.
Jed Steele has been making wine in California since the late 1960s. He was born in New York and moved with his family to San Francisco in 1950. After graduating from Gonzaga University in Washington State, he got his first job working in the cellar at Napa Valley’s Stony Hill Winery which had a pivotal influence on him. He went back to school to earn a Masters degree in enology at UC Davis. He then worked eight years for Edmeades Winery in Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley. While at Edmeades, he produced the first commercial ice wine in the U.S. using the very strict German winemaking laws as a model. He also produced the first red Rhône blend in California, made from Grenache, Petite Sirah, and Carignane. He also produced the first wine label, except for Chateau Mouton Rothschild, to use original artwork. He was the founding winemaker at Kendall-Jackson Winery where he developed the concept and style of the Kendall-Jackson Vintners Reserve Chardonnay.
In 1991, he founded his own small winery in Lake County. Steele Wines specializes in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Pinot Blanc and Syrah. First vintage release was in 1992. In addition to the Steele brand, Jed also introduced Shooting Star, Writer’s Block, and Stymie. His philosophy has been to make several varietal wines in small lots using minimally invasive winemaking techniques and allowing the vineyard and grape variety to dictate the wine’s style. Today Jed uses 16 different varietals and produces 40 wines. Having worked in the winemaking business for a considerable length of time, he has been able to develop trusting relationships with many vineyard owners from Santa Barbara to Washington State.
The Pinot Blanc grapes for this wine were sourced from the Bien Nacido Vineyard. The Bien Nacido Vineyard is considered one of the most important vineyards in Santa Barbara County. Its origin goes back to 1837. Located midway in Santa Maria Valley, it is ideal for growing cool weather grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, among others.
