My husband roasts a mean chicken. A lot of the times it has to do with the moisture-locking salt and lemon brine he has mastered (thank you, Thomas Keller), a lot of the times it has to do with what wine we have accompanying it. Last night, it was a little bit of both—a savory bird, enhanced by the delicate intricacies of the Lauren Ashton 2011 Roussanne.
With fruit from the Dineen Vineyards just north of Zillah, Wash., in Yakima Valley, Lauren Ashton Cellars winemaker and winery president Kit Singh settles on the subtle nuances of this typically blasé and chubby white blender from France’s Rhône valley. However, in a cooler climate like Yakima’s Dineen Vineyards, this small-production white (97 cases) is able to soak in acid while maintaining ripe fruit and roundness. A touch of new French oak here and a dash of neutral there, these portions of the wine are aged on the lees to acquire a lovely textural richness while the final divide of the wine is fermented in stainless steel to provide crispness. The nose is savory in thyme and herbal tea with lavender, while lemon zest, pear and honeysuckle pop once the Roussanne warms in the glass, providing a palate that is rich and round in stone fruit yet bright with citrus to finish.
Buy it here and get free delivery within Washington’s King County.
Follow on Facebook: Lauren Ashton Cellars
Track on Twitter: @LaurenAshton_WA
