Lone Madrone Oveja Review

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Oveja: What I think

Lone Madrone has a knack for making bold, food-friendly, and ageable white wines. The fruit for this particular wine came from what is now called Old Oak Vineyard (but was previously known as Sheep Camp Creek). Often when a vineyard changes hands, the wines made from it change, too. In this case, the vines were replanted and head-trained with the eventual plan to have them be dry-farmed.

Unsurprisingly, this Grenache Blanc and Picpoul Blanc (also known as the lip stinger) was quite bright and even after several years of quiet rest in the cellar, it was still very fresh tasting. I neglected to note which of the following tasting descriptors were on the nose vs the palate, but here's the delightfulness I enjoyed: white fruit cocktail, banana, lychee, something like Petrol (from the Picpoul), and mandarin. Still food-friendly, after all those years.

We were members at Lone Madrone for a long time, and this is probably one of the last few of their white wines we have hiding in the cellar. When we open one, I remember why we were members for so long. Neil Collins (better known as the winemaker at Tablas Creek Vineyards) likes his wines the way I do — big and punchy.

Last updated: July 17, 2023