Callaway Winemaker's Reserve Roussanne 2005
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Callaway Cellars’ wines, Callaway Cellar Selection and premium tier winery Ely by Callaway Cellars, are galvanized by more than 40 years of California winemaking that started with Ely Callaway. Both tiers offer California’s two most popular varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, which play to the strengths that brought the state its first major acclaim.
Ely by Callaway Cellars focuses on two notable growing regions: Napa Valley and Paso Robles. Napa Valley, which boasts a Mediterranean climate, is the oldest and most prestigious growing area in the state and produces prized Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Paso Robles, California’s “Wild West “of winemaking, is known for its late-season heat suited to Cabernet Sauvignon and for cool night temperatures, resulting in ripe fruit flavors with balanced acidity across all varieties.
Full and silky in body but also charmingly crisp, Roussanne is native to the Rhône Valley of France. It is responsible for some of the finest Northern Rhône white wines. Roussanne adds richness and acidity to Marsanne’s soft, fruitiness, making age worthy and highly respected whites. Somm Secret—Roussanne takes its name from the French word, roux, meaning rouge or red because of the berry’s pink glow. In California, virtually all of the 339 acres of Roussanne come from true clones brought over by Tablas Creek and John Alban.
Responsible for the vast majority of American wine production, if California were a country, it would be the world’s fourth largest wine-producing nation. The state’s diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of red wine styles, and unlike tradition-bound Europe, experimentation is more than welcome here. California wineries range from tiny, family-owned boutiques to massive corporations, and price and production are equally varied. Plenty of inexpensive bulk wine is made in the Central Valley area, while Napa Valley is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious and expensive “cult” wines.
Each American Viticultural Area (AVA) and sub-AVA of has its own distinct personality, allowing California to produce red wine of every fashion: from bone dry to unctuously sweet, still to sparkling, light and fresh to rich and full-bodied. In the Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate vineyard acreage. Sonoma County is best known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rosé and Zinfandel. The Central Coast has carved out a niche with Rhône Blends based on Grenache and Syrah, while Mendocino has found success with cool climate varieties such as Pinot noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. With all the diversity that California wine has to offer, any wine lover will find something to get excited about here.