THE LONG POUR:
WEIGHTY WHITES FOR WINTER
by Mike Stolese
With the yearly change of seasons, many folks shift their white-wine choices toward bottles that feel richer and fuller on the palate…terms usually saved for red wines.
For me, the spring and summer choices are light, refreshing, acidic whites: dry Rieslings, Gruner Veltliners, Arneis and Albarino. When the leaves turn and the snow starts flying, I reach for whites that are medium-to-full-bodied, lower in acidity, and offer a nice, long finish.
Alsace whites like Pinot Blanc and Gewürztraminer fit this bill. I also gravitate toward any of the whites from France’s Rhône Valley: Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier. All offer a level of viscosity that coats the palate and delivers floral aromas with melon, pear, and honey flavors.
Other winter white thoughts: Pinot Gris from the Pacific Northwest, oaked Chenin Blanc, white Burgundy, and well-made, oak-aged Chardonnay.
Stay warm, settle in by the fire, and tip a glass of weighty winter white…
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Your Guide to Fuller Bodied Winter Whites
Chardonnay
Flavor Profile: Oaked versions offer rich, buttery flavors with notes of vanilla, toasted oak, and tropical fruits like pineapple and mango. Unoaked Chablis from France, while full-bodied, focuses more on a crisp, mineral-driven profile.
Texture: Known for a creamy and smooth mouthfeel, often resulting from malolactic fermentation and oak aging.
Viognier
Flavor Profile: This wine is highly aromatic, featuring distinctive notes of peach, apricot, honeysuckle, and sometimes vanilla.
Texture: Viognier is full-bodied and often described as having a lush, velvety, or "oily" mouthfeel with moderate acidity.
Sémillon
Flavor Profile: Dry, full-bodied Sémillon, especially from Australia's Hunter Valley, features notes of lemon, green apple, and a unique lanolin or waxy character that develops with age. It is also famously used for sweet, rich Sauternes dessert wines.
Texture: Known for a waxy and concentrated texture that adds to its weight on the palate.
Marsanne & Roussanne
Flavor Profile: These grapes are often blended in the Northern Rhône region of France to produce rich wines with notes of honey, pear, almond, and stone fruit.
Texture: They possess a robust, textured profile that can feel rich and nutty.
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Your Winter Whites Shopping List!
A lineup of bottles that deliver richness, texture, and cold-weather comfort…
Raptor Ridge Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley, Oregon): Apple purée and lemon rind notes, wrapped in a lush, generous texture.
Patrick Sullivan Chardonnay (Australia): White peach, lemon-lime, and subtle smoky oak…full-bodied without being overbearing.
Fichet Bourgogne Blanc (Burgundy, France): Ripe, creamy, lively, and lifted with touches of exotic fruit. Utterly easy to drink.
Domaine de Saint Cosme Les Deux Albion Blanc (Rhône, France): Salty minerality with dried apricot and white-flower aromatics. Primarily Marsanne & Viognier.
Mullineaux “Kloof Street” Chenin Blanc (South Africa): Fresh-cut apple, citrus, crushed stone, and white pear. Fresh yet creamy.
Justin Boxler “Jardin des Vignes” (Alsace, France): A co-fermented blend of old-vine Sylvaner, Pinot Auxerrois & Muscat. Deeply floral, pure, balanced, and quietly stunning.