Martelloto Wines “Special Club” White Wine Blend Review

I really wanted to love this wine. I enjoy white blends, I enjoy each of the grapes in this blend, but the magic just didn’t happen for me.

Wine review by: Jessyca Frederick

“Special Club” White Wine Blend
“Special Club” White Wine Blend: front of bottle with wine in glass

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About this Wine

Wine: 2021 “Special Club” White Wine Blend
Blend: 55% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Riesling, 15% Pinot Grigio, and 10% Chenin Blanc
Region: Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California
Cases produced: 225
I consumed it: September 2022
My source: The Gold Wine Club by Gold Medal Wine Club

Discover More

From this wine club: The Gold Wine Club by Gold Medal Wine Club

From this winery: Martelloto Wines

Region: Santa Barbara, Central Coast, California

Wine color/style: White wine

Grape variety or blend: White blends

Tasting notes: Lemon, Fruity

Other characteristics: Small production

“Special Club” White Wine Blend: What I think

I really wanted to love this wine. I enjoy white blends, I enjoy each of the grapes in this blend, but the magic just didn’t happen for me. I found the drier, lemony flavors of the Sauvignon Blanc sort of pushed and pulled on the fruitier Riesling and Chenin Blanc. I couldn’t quite figure out where the Pinot Grigio began and where it ended, though Pinot Grigio from California tends to be fruitier than its Italian counterparts and probably was hiding among the Riesling and Chenin.

We paired the Special Club with a dish that we eat every week (oven-roasted chickpeas with tomatoes, cucumber, and feta). My favorite pairings for this salad are a Viognier, other white Rhone blend, or Chenin Blanc, so I thought this would be a good match, but it just didn’t hold up to the vibrant salad. Gold Medal suggested a Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Herbed White Wine Pan Sauce to go with this wine — that sounds like it would have been a great choice.

Last updated: March 21, 2023

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