I don't know about you, but I spend a lot of time looking for everyday wines. It seems there is no end to special bottles – the bottles I spend more on than I mean to, and save for birthdays, anniversaries, and holiday celebrations. But, that reasonably priced bottle, the one that goes just as well with a bowl of pasta as it does with a burger, is often elusive.
Lately, I've found my daily driver. I first read about Joel Gott in a 2008 issue of Bon Appetit. He is a restaurant owner in Napa Valley (when I first learned about him, he owned Taylor's Automatic Refresher, now rebranded as Gott's Roadside); he and his wife also make wine under the label Joel Gott Wines. In this feature article, I was charmed by his simple yet sophisticated food. When I first tasted the wine, I was equally pleased.
Joel Gott Wines focuses on five grapes - two reds (Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel) and three whites (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling). My first love was the Zinfandel - a big, juicy California Zin, perfect for the burgers, fries, and roadside food Gott serves. Then, I found the Sauvignon Blanc and as the weather gets warmer, I find it hard to drive past the liquor store on a Friday evening (okay, and a Wednesday, too) without picking up a bottle or two. The honey and grapefruit flavors blend well with the stoniness of the finish - a nice mix of silky and tart.
Here's what I like most - each wine tastes like the grape on the label. There are no off-notes; you know what you are getting. And, if that isn't a crucial component of a weeknight wine, I don't know what is.
Joel Gott Zinfandel 2008
California
$17
Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc 2009
California
$12
Lately, I've found my daily driver. I first read about Joel Gott in a 2008 issue of Bon Appetit. He is a restaurant owner in Napa Valley (when I first learned about him, he owned Taylor's Automatic Refresher, now rebranded as Gott's Roadside); he and his wife also make wine under the label Joel Gott Wines. In this feature article, I was charmed by his simple yet sophisticated food. When I first tasted the wine, I was equally pleased.
Joel Gott Wines focuses on five grapes - two reds (Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel) and three whites (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling). My first love was the Zinfandel - a big, juicy California Zin, perfect for the burgers, fries, and roadside food Gott serves. Then, I found the Sauvignon Blanc and as the weather gets warmer, I find it hard to drive past the liquor store on a Friday evening (okay, and a Wednesday, too) without picking up a bottle or two. The honey and grapefruit flavors blend well with the stoniness of the finish - a nice mix of silky and tart.
Here's what I like most - each wine tastes like the grape on the label. There are no off-notes; you know what you are getting. And, if that isn't a crucial component of a weeknight wine, I don't know what is.
Joel Gott Zinfandel 2008
California
$17
Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc 2009
California
$12
Agreed! We found Joel Gott a few years ago and whenever I see the Sauv blanc or the Zin in the grocery store they do not get walked by without being added to the basket. The Joel Gott Sauv Blanc is actually the the wine that got me to start drinking whites on more a regular basis. Another excellent post and suggestion! Thnks!
ReplyDelete