By Matt Palaferri
Good day golfers and wine drinkers! I have found a fantastic new wine for you to try in 2024! I taste hundreds and hundreds of different wines every year. Some I really enjoy and some I like to taste and then pour for my friends who like sugar and mega purple in a glass. As for Quattro Theory, they only get some if I have a second bottle; and to be honest, if the Sauvignon Blanc is opened, or even chilling in one of the fridges, my wife can sniff it out and she drinks it before I can even tell her I have a few bottles. What makes these wines, ALL OF THEM so good?!
Winemaker Landon Donley, the charismatic, down to earth winemaker of Quattro Theory, “wants to make wines that are balanced, complex and you can drink them right away upon release.” I, for one appreciate this as I’m not getting any younger and frankly, I don’t have the time or patience to wait and age wines. I buy them, and I want to drink them! The grapes comes from some quality vineyards in the Napa Valley. Younger vines. Older vines and vines that are juuuuuust right. When I first tasted the wines, I was blown away on how approachable the cab is. First vintage and Bam! Right away you knew this wine would age beautifully for several years (if you want to do that sort of thing) but is tasting amazing right out of the gate. I’ve had it with several different proteins and was perfect with them all. My friends are shocked that it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg either. Don’t get any ideas Landon and raise the prices.
I’m not a huge California chard person, unless they are something super special which Landon’s Chardonnay is. He works with cool climate which drives the acidity and balance. Most California chards have 198% new oak (yes, I know that’s not possible, appreciate the sarcasm) and go through a malolactic fermentation, but this wine stays away from that. You can actually taste the fruit! Go figure. What a great concept for a Napa Chardonnay. Fruit, balance, acidity. Love it! If you don’t normally drink Chardonnay, I encourage you to find this one and give it a go. You wont be disappointed.
I always thought Sauvignon Blanc from California gets overlooked. Almost like a precursor to heavier, more tannic wines. Mr. Donley has made a very bad to the bone SB with some giddy up. You don’t find too much sauv Blanc being grown in Calistoga, from 30+ year old vines, but this wine is just that. With a touch of Semillon as well, this SB it tropical, acidic, medium on the palate with a long lingering finish of mango, green apple and white peach. Like I say, I can’t keep this wine in the house without my WAY better half finding it. Get it. You will keep going back for more.
I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Landon and Quattro Theory. I will be up to Napa soon and will be finding these wines at the Trinchero Family Estate to taste again and again.
