Frey Totality Blanc de Blancs, Sierra Foothills

ABV: 13.3%
SRP: priceless
Grapes: organic white blend 

Traditional method sparkling wine made from grapes picked in 2007, and bottled in 2017.

Appearance:  Very golden, very pretty; it matches the gold on the label meant to show the corona. 

Aroma: Nice brioche, pear, almond, asian pear, cardamon. 

Palate: Delicate foam gently caresses the palate, brioche, almond, nice acidity, pear, golden delicious apple, Granny Smith apple acidity.

Pairing: Fantastic with the salami as well as the truffled proscuitto, very nice with the nuts in the baked brie as well as the brie without nuts which brings out a saltiness in the brie. So fantastic with the salt cured olives.  I really liked it with the truffle gouda but Sue didn’t really like that cheese especially with this wine. So great with the smoked trout salad; the rosemary olive oil, the lightly smoked Patagonia Provisions salmon, kiwi, rosemary almonds, and the greens went together nicely and absolutely perfect with the wine. The wine went well with a seared duck breast as well. 

Previously, we did a meal with six Frey wines. Not only is the timing right to share this now because of the eclipse, but April is Earth Month and California Sustainable Wine Month. These wines are perfect for all of these celebrations, and they are affordable and food friendly  too! The wines are widely available across the US– look for them at Costco and Sprouts! 

 

Frey Organic and Biodynamic Wines  

• 2018 Frey “Chateau Frey” Biodynamic Pinot Gris, Grand vin de Redwood Valley 
• 2020 Frey “Plenty” Biodynamic Sauvignon Blanc, Mendocino 
• 2019 Frey Biodynamic Tempranillo, Mendocino
• 2020 Frey Organic Malbec, Mendocino 
• 2021 Frey “Plenty” Biodynamic Malbec 

Menu 

• caprese salad: heirloom garden grown tomatoes 
• raw oysters 
• salad with roasted fresh local fig stuffed with blue cheese 
• linguini with clams 
• pasta with mushroom, lamb, and beef ragu 

2018 Frey “Chateau Frey” Pinot Gris, Grand vin de Redwood Valley

ABV: 13.9%
SRP: 
Grapes: Biodynamic Pinot Gris

Appearance:  Very pale gold, platinum rim,

Aroma: Mild chamomile, smells like an estuary right near the coastal zone, the saline and a bit of ocean breeze funk,  pear, golden delicious apple,  honeydew melon, 

Palate: Nice roundness, a bit of caramel apple, pear, silty, clay silt texturally, Meyer lemon, jasmine, floral finish, 

Pairing: Nice brunch wine, would go well with a chicken salad or an egg salad. A Caprese Salad makes the Pinot Gris a much more interesting wine, the wine picks up on the arugula and pine nuts which work nicely together with the wine. The oyster brought out big peachy notes in the wine. It was a bit too peachy for my flavor, but Sue found it to be quite pleasurable. We were not as happy with the pasta and clam sauce with this wine. It made the wine a bit too fruity. Our favorite pairing for this wine was a blue cheese baked fig. 

2020 Frey “Plenty” Sauvignon Blanc, Mendocino 

ABV: 13.5%
SRP: 
Grapes: Biodynamic Sauvignon Blanc
purchased on sale at Sprouts 

Appearance:  Very pale yellow, platinum rim

Aroma: Very subtle nosed, no gooseberry, fennel, white stone fruit, sea grass, salinity, buttered toast with honey, 

Palate: Very straight forward Sauvignon Blanc while being a bit rounder on the palate than some, Kiwi, Eureka lemon, bright acidity, minerality, 

Pairing: We know from experience that a caprese salad works perfectly with Sauvignon Blanc and this is no different. the exceptional is that these were home grown tomatoes right off the vine which is better than you can get anywhere. The wine picks up on the umami richness and flavors of the tomato. An oyster becomes very creamy with the wine. Fantastic with the linguine pasta and clam sauce, 

2019 Frey Biodynamic Tempranillo, Mendocino

ABV: 13.6%
SRP: text
Grapes: Biodynamic Tempranillo

Appearance:  Cranberry with a mauve rim, fairly translucent, 

Aroma: Engaging and inviting, cherry and baking spice, tobacco, cigar box, church incense, rose petals, potpourri, cola, cinnamon, red hots, 

Palate: Light in body, lots of acidity and tannins, very nicely balanced, cherry, fresh tart blueberry, elderberry, black pepper on the finish, 

Pairing: Yumo with our blue  roasted cheese stuffed figs salad and I did not want to leave this pairing. Add a bit of Jason or procuitto on top and it would put this dish over the top. The rosemary in the ragu is fantastic with the wine. It loves the rich sweetness of the tomato and the fresh herbs. 

 

2020 Frey Malbec, Mendocino 

ABV: 13.4%
SRP: 
Grapes: organic Malbec

Appearance:  Very dense and dark, purple, plum, fushia rim

Aroma: Blue berry, blue fruit, and more  blueberry, sage, chaparral, brush, but mostly blue fruit, 

Palate: Bold tannins that are balanced by tart blue fruit, if Jolly Ranchers made a blueberry candy it would be similar to this wine, elderberry, unsweetened elderberry syrup, 

Pairing: The blue cheese stuffed figs bring out the herbal qualities in the wine rather than the fruit. It is a very enjoyable pairing. The fresh green fig contrasts nicely with the wine. The pecans on top add richness. this wine marries and contrasts with the wine so perfectly. The rosemary in the ragu really jumps out when followed by a sip of this wine. It works nicely with both the lamb and the oso bunco because of the richness in both of the meats. The fat being cooked down with the added acidity of the tomato and 2 cups of wine added to the rich intensity of the meal and paired with the rich intensity of the wine. 

2021 Frey “Plenty” Biodynamic Malbec

ABV: 14.1%
SRP: 
Grapes: biodynamic Malbec
purchased on sale at Sprouts  

Appearance:  Dense, purple, plum, fushia rim, cloudy, 

Aroma: Blue fruit, shoe box, leather, cardboard, musty, earthen, cinnamon stick or Ceylon cinnamon, portobello mushroom, black pepper

Palate: Bright acidic blue fruit, leathery tannins, blueberry fruit leather, cooking sage, very dry yet fruit forward, 

Pairing: The wine loves the pasta, it loves the lamb, and it loves the richness of flavors, it is not the most complex wine, but it says ” walk this way” in your brain towards the meal. The pasta is very grounding for this wine. The pasta with this sauce, with the lamb, the lamb in the sauce speaks to the wine and says “Come to me” The fig salad and the wine were also amazing together, so rich, so fruity, so complex and enjoyable. 

 

PS: What should you do with those eclipse glasses you may NOT need for 20 years?