The wines of Hermitage (Blanc) are intriguing and distinctive, ranking with White Burgundies as some of the greatest and most age-worthy white wines in the world. Taking a non-traditional route in attempting to express the characters I love in white Hermitage was a real leap of faith. Having tasted a few bottlings of pure Roussanne here and in France, and not preferring the ripening profile of Marsanne in California, I decided to focus on Roussanne and accent it primarily with Dijon clone Chardonnay. The year over year goal is to develop a level of intensity, complexity, and balance in both the fruit and the winemaking to yield Santa Lucia Highlands' first truly great and age-worthy white wine.
The 2006 "Les Tournesols" Roussanne blend offers a range of apple and pear-like aromas and flavors, joined by elements of fresh lime and honey, and accented by subtle notes of licorice and vanillin. Possessing a bright and lively mouthfeel, the structured and minerally finish shows the potential for aging.