2023 Carol Shelton - Coquille Blanc San Luis Obispo (750ml)

Carol Shelton is widely regarded as one of the most awarded winemakers in the United States, having earned Winemaker of the Year honors multiple times over her career. She and her husband Mitch Mackenzie, a former software engineer, launched Carol Shelton Wines in 2000, and while she's best known for her acclaimed Zinfandels, she has an equal passion for white Rhône-style blends.

Coquille Blanc was originally created in 2008 to mark the winery's 10th anniversary. The name, pronounced "ko-keel," is French for shellfish or scallop, echoing the scallop shells on the Shelton family coat of arms. Carol calls it a "red-drinker's white," a complex, exotic alternative to more one-dimensional white varietal wines. The wine is a Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc-style blend, grown mostly in the Paso Robles AVA of San Luis Obispo County, and the 2023 vintage is 50% Viognier, 30% Grenache Blanc, and 20% Roussanne.

The finished wine shows an enticing nose of spicy pear and white peach, almond paste, and a touch of honeysuckle perfume, layered and multidimensional in a way that's almost mysterious. On the palate it's crisply dry yet creamy and round, full-bodied with nice almond character carrying through.

Coquille Blanc is the perfect complement to its shellfish namesake, as well as chicken or pork dishes finished with buttery, creamy sauces.