Country: US / Ineseño
Variety: Rhône-style White Blend California
Winery: Refugio Ranch / Santa Ynez Valley
Winemaker Ryan Deovlet isn’t afraid of prominent oak, so this comes on with a luscious butterscotch nose, and it immediately smells like it will be a silky wine. It is, with accents of vanilla and a touch of bitterness, but the overriding flavor is smokiness, reminiscent of the rustic Mexican liquor, Mezcal. This could easily handle pork carnitas.