On a recent trip to Napa Valley I had a chance to dine at Goose and Gander in St. Helena. Goose and Gander is an interesting restaurant in downtown St. Helena with a quirky bar in the basement, eclectic menu and extensive wine list.
The Sommelier at Goose and Gander asked if he could answer any questions as I was looking at the wine list. I told the Sommelier I would really enjoy a rich, minerally Chardonnay I can’t find on the East Coast. After asking a few additional questions the Sommelier recommended Radio-Coteau Wingtine.
I was not familiar with Radio-Coteau Winery so I was anxious to give his recommendation a try. The wine was phenomenal and true to my request, it is very hard to find on the East Coast! While dining with friends at Truluck’s in Naples, Florida a few weeks ago I saw Wingtine on the wine list. Since I had not been able to find the wine since returning from Napa Valley, I recommended we have a bottle. As it turns out we had a second bottle and I left the restaurant anxious to resume my search for Radio-Coteau.
Radio-Coteau is a French colloquial expression meaning “word of mouth”. How appropriate I am suggesting people try the wine! The winery produces two Chardonnay wines (Wingtine and Savoy), six Pinot Noir’s (Dierke, Terra Neuma, Las Neblina, Laguna, Alberigi and Savoy), three Syrah’s (Las Colinas, Dusty Lane and Harrison Grade) and a Zinfandel (Lemorel). Wingtine is a Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and the other wines come from either the Anderson Valley, Russian River Valley or Sonoma Coast.
As I was researching the winery I learned the Winegrower/Proprietor at Radio-Coteau was born and raised in New York State and attended Cornell University. I was going to give him a call to suggest increasing distribution of the wine near his alma mater but that wasn’t necessary! The winery just released the 2015 Wingtine and I was able to place an order through their website.
If you are anxious to try an outstanding Chardonnay I highly recommend Radio-Coteau’s Wingtine.
