2024 Uncommon Earth – Sinor-LaVallee, Palomino, Lopez Vineyard, Cucamonga Valley.
Bright gold and salty fresh in the glass, the Lopez Vineyard Cucamunga Valley old vine Palomino from Sinor-LaVallee’s Uncommon Earth Wines is one of my favorite expressions of this grape, also known as Listen Blanco and or the Mission White Grape, in California, with it’s almost Aligoté like character in the glass, showing a range of citrus, apple, white peach, wet stone, subtle yeasty notes, wild herb, sea shore and bitter almond. This crisp.medium bodied and focused white would be fabulous with oysters, clams, mussels and or grilled sardines, which its acidity and clean flavors belying the grape’s usual new world form. Palomino is most famous for being the Sherry grape and for some unremarkable high yielding bulk wine in other parts of Spain, its homeland, but this version is non oxidized, aged without Flor, and quite elegant. Winemaker Mike Sinor, who used to make all the wines at his Bassi Vinyeard near Avila Beach, but In 2024 Mike and Cheri sold the Bassi Vineyard to Mikey and Gina Giugni of Scar of the Sea and Lady of the Sunshine, so looked for other interesting sites to source from, hence this wine. The Palomino comes from an ever shrinking historic Mission bush vine and dry farmed vineyard in Southern California well over a hundred years old, but largely kept going because of the efforts by Abe Schoener of the Scholium Project and his friend Raj Parr, who also make wine from this unique site in the sandy soils of Ranch Cucamonga, not far from the urban sprawl of Los Angeles and old oil wells.
A new discovery for me, Uncommon Earth wines, made by Sinor Family Wines, who’s co-owners Tomas and Esmée Sinor, are children of renowned winemaker Mike Sinor, famous for his work at Ancient Peaks Winery in Paso Robles, in the Rancho Margherita district. The Sinor Family Wines still has founder Mike Sinor and Cheri LaVallee, of Arroyo Grande, who established the Sinor-LaVallee label back in 1997, making chewiness, but Tomas and Esmée, who are looking to take the reins of the company soon, as Mike eyes his semi-retirement, according to the winery. Thomas and Esmée also have the Shuck Shack oyster and natural Winebar in Avila Beach, which is a wildly successful adventure and a must visit spot in the central coast, where they feature unique offerings, such as this Uncommon Earth Palomino, as well as wines from local producers, and cult favorites, such as Scar of the Sea in San Luis Obispo and Phelan Farm in Cambria. Thomas led to the beginning of the Uncommon Earth lineup in 2024 and focused the winery’s attention on some really cool vineyards, and wines that were terroir and naturally focused in style as seen here. The Uncommon Earth Palomino was hand picked from the Lopez Vineyard in Rancho Cucamonga, from its historic120 Year Old Vines, and was whole cluster pressed to wood and aged 12 Months in neutral French oak, with ultra low sulfur and no stirring of the lees, finishing at just 10.7% natural alcohol, making this a lively and quaffable success. The collection at Uncommon Earth looks pretty exciting and I certainly will be giving them a look through myself, thank you Kristen Watts, of Tonnellerie Fouailly, who supplies barrels to Sinor, for sharing your personal bottle with me
($35 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive