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THE NEW WORLD ITALY:
PALMINA
Palmina is more than a winery. It is a philosophy and it is a passion. It is a strongly held belief that wine is an extension of the plate, a component of a meal and a means to bring people together. Formed by Steve Clifton in 1995, Palmina was named in honour of Steve’s great friend Paula, who taught him to love cooking, wine and the Italian lifestyle and who was a spark in Steve’s life. After Paula succumbed to breast cancer, Steve found that her given name on her Italian birth certificate was Palmina, and the winery was thus fittingly named. “Mr. Clifton emphasizes that he's not trying to mimic the Italian version of those grapes; rather, he's trying to take those Italian grapes and reinterpret them, given the growing conditions and vineyard sites of Santa Barbara County, which remind him of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia grape-growing region of Italy. While he truly respects Italian tradition, he doesn't go strictly by the book. Instead, he makes the wines with a nod to how wine is viewed in Italian culture, meaning every wine is made with food in mind.”
Palmina 2007 Santa Barbara County, Pinot Grigio
The wine almost glows in the glass with a beautiful clarity and pale flaxen hue. Notes of acacia and honeysuckle mingle with asian pear and citrus blossom on the nose. A first sip reveals a fascinating texture of both vibrant acidity and creaminess, enveloped by impressions of Fuji apple, clementines, lemon curd and hints of tropical fruit in the kiwi, key lime range. A snap of lemongrass and stony minerality are present on the long and satisfying finish. Forget insipid, watery, cheap PGs and see what a fully developed interpretation of this wine can become. Grace Restaurant on College is pouring it By-The-Glass…
$28.36/bt
12bt/cs
Palmina 2006 Arneis, Honea Vineyard
How can one resist opening a bottle of wine whose varietal name translates to “whimsical”? (It also translates to “rascally” or “a little crazy” but we will leave those alone.) Arneis has a reputation of being an ornery grape to grow so if you aren’t familiar with it, think of this as a more textural, aromatic version of Chard, it is certainly the most robust white, Palmina makes. It’s almost as if Pinot Grigio had a wild one-night stand with Chardonnay and out of the tryst came Arneis. Full of character with an alluring floral bouquet of jasmine and honeysuckle, with hints of sandalwood. Heady and perfumed as a result of the stainless steel aging. Elegantly structured, the palate is coated with a creaminess emphasizing kiwis, lemon curd, tangerines and nuances of fennel and wild herbs. Persistent remembrances of pomelo and almond liner and loiter until the next swirl and sip.
$28.77/bt
12bt/cs
Palmina 2006 Santa Barbara County, Barbera
This easy-going wine has become known as the “wine of the people” in northern regions of Italy and known worldwide for its intense colour. Palmina Barbera more than lives up to its reputation. Deep ruby-red in colour with violet hues – one swirl in the glass releases a bouquet of ripe plum, blackberry and black currant along with subtle traces of nutmeg and toasted vanilla and a touch of earthy minerality. This wine coats the palate like smooth silk, with soft and pleasing tannins and lively acidity. There is a depth of blueberry-plum and black cherry fruit, sweet baking spice and a hint of chocolate in the mouth. It's just plain friendly and a wine that goes great with what ever you are eating, as Barbera loves food and food loves Barbera.
$41.98/bt
12bt/cs
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