It's no surprise to those who read this blog regularly that I am a huge fan of Matthiasson wine out of Napa Valley, CA (if you want to see how much, check out all the blog posts below that mention Matthiasson). I was first introduced to their wines at the 2009 Wine Bloggers Conference in Sonoma and the 2008 Napa Valley White Wine was the runaway hit of the weekend for me. That's saying a lot for me to put a white at the top of any list, especially a list that includes over 200 other wines we tasted that weekend.Now, I've had the distinct pleasure of tasting the 2009 Matthiasson Napa Valley White Wine and let me be the first to tell you that the 2009 is even better. It doesn't throw the 2008 out the window and stomp it in the dirt, but, with any wine, I expect each year to better than the last and Matthiasson does not disappoint with this new vintage. Both the 2008 and 2009 are blends of four varietals:
- Sauvignon Blanc - 47% in 2008; 59% in 2009
- Ribolla Gialla - 31% in 2008; 28% in 2009
- Tocai Friulano - 3% in 20o8; 8% in 2009
- Sémillon - 19% in 2008; 5% in 2009
When I first read the notes on the new blend, I was a bit worried as I thought the Sémillon added so much to the 2008 and, now, in the 2009 blend, it was deemphasized in favor of more Sauvignon Blanc. But, thankfully, there was nothing to worry about. The Sauvignon Blanc infusion is not of the New Zealand or California version, but more an old world, Sancerre feel. In 
Matthiasson's words: "This wine is our new world conception of a mythical ideal old-world wine...a California wine with a spiritual connection to Friuli, Italy, but also drawing inspiration from the great whites of the Loire, Graves, Alsace, the Rhone, old-school Napa...[t]his wine is an attempt at getting at the core of what white wine is all about, the archetypal 'white wine'"
This is a beautifully structured wine. Good, clean citrus notes, rich and broad mouthfeel, multiple layers, all supported by a perfect mineral base. No question I have a bit of a crush on this wine, but I do think it's for good reason. It is, simply put, one of the best whites I've tasted in years. You cannot lose with either the 2008 or 2009 and it's well worth trying to get at least one of each, if not more.
My rating: 93
What you should do: Find a way, at the very least, to taste this wine. Better yet, if you see it, buy it. It really is worth the effort.
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Past Blog posts that reference Matthiasson:
Matthiasson's words: "This wine is our new world conception of a mythical ideal old-world wine...a California wine with a spiritual connection to Friuli, Italy, but also drawing inspiration from the great whites of the Loire, Graves, Alsace, the Rhone, old-school Napa...[t]his wine is an attempt at getting at the core of what white wine is all about, the archetypal 'white wine'"This is a beautifully structured wine. Good, clean citrus notes, rich and broad mouthfeel, multiple layers, all supported by a perfect mineral base. No question I have a bit of a crush on this wine, but I do think it's for good reason. It is, simply put, one of the best whites I've tasted in years. You cannot lose with either the 2008 or 2009 and it's well worth trying to get at least one of each, if not more.
My rating: 93
What you should do: Find a way, at the very least, to taste this wine. Better yet, if you see it, buy it. It really is worth the effort.
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Past Blog posts that reference Matthiasson:
NOTE: this wine was sent to me as a sample from Matthiasson.
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