Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/688647
56 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } JUNE/JULY 2016 { cover story } the perfect blend" states Gott. It's always about someone remembering a wine they enjoyed, not just ours, whether at home or in a restaurant and without seeing the label first—the quality has to be in the bottle!" ARTFULLY SOURCED CALIFORNIA VARIETALS Do you find going through the motion of selecting Chardonnays for your program tedious? The solution may be the Joel Gott 2014 California Chardonnay (about $16), for good reason: The Gott winemaking team hones in on a more purely varietal, acid-driven style that loves food, rather than fights it. Says Gott, "We source from vineyards all over California to achieve our preferred character and texture—a lot from Monterey to get that marine influence and acid base, and from Napa and Sonoma for good concentration—and then ferment in stainless steel tanks and drums." "Give me an ahi burger or mahi mahi fish tacos with this Chardonnay!" declares Gott. The Joel Gott 2015 California Sauvignon Blanc (about $12) is as pungent and refreshing as grapefruit in the morning, with Meyer lemon and earthy lime peel colliding with bright, easy, medium-bodied tropical fruit on the palate. "This balance of sweet fruit and acid," says Gott, illustrates "what we love about California, through blending from four regions—the New Zealand–like character and acid that we get from the coastal vineyards in Monterey, and the great fruit and concentration from warmer sites in Napa, Sonoma and Lake County, all fermented and aged completely in stainless steel tanks and drums." The famous "Shenandoah spice" of Amador County, where the Gotts have been sourcing grapes since 1996, gives the signature earthy, dusty notes of the lavish berry jam found in the Joel Gott 2014 California Zinfandel (about $18); but art - ful flourishes like cassis-like intensity, bright- ening acidity, rounded tannin and white pepper spice come from vineyard sources in Mendocino, Sonoma, Lodi and even a tiny bit from Santa Barbara. Gott, who is also well known for revitalizing the landmark Taylor's Automatic Refresher in St. Helena as Gott's Roadside (now with four locations and another on the way), has always been a Gott sources "from all over California to achieve our preferred character and texture." PHOTO: BRIANA MARIE