The last wine I’m looking at from Kiamie WIne Cellars is their White Kuvée. This wine is the only White currently in their portfolio. The reputation that Paso Robles has made as a wine-producing region is largely predicated on their reds. However, more and more, there are some noteworthy whites emerging from this region too. Whether it’s the quartet of distinct Chardonnays produced by Carmody Mcknight, the lovely Viognier being crafted year after year by Victor Hugo or the host of Rhone varietals being produced by Garretson Wine Company, Paso Robles is more of a player when it comes to excellent whites than I think the average consumer has been led to believe.

The Kiamie White Kuvée is 64% Roussanne and 35% Viognier. Fruit for this wine was sourced from the Derby Vineyard. A mere 250 cases of this blend were produced and the suggested retail price is $24.

Citrus fruits, white peach, vanilla and a soft almond note fill the nose of the White Kuvée. This wine has a round, smooth mouth feel. It’s full in the mid-palate with mango notes and clings to he back of the throat a little like honey does. Lemon Zest, mineral notes and nutmeg spice are featured in the long, lingering finish. This wine is balance with nice acidity and will match up very well with a wide array of light summer fare. It drinks well on it’s own as well.

With the White Kuvée, I must say that Kiamie Wine Cellars is three for three in solid and enjoyable wines. This blend in particular is well layered with good complexity. It should drink well through 2009. As with the other 2 wines it’s impressive what they’ve done with their debut releases. I look forward to watching where they go next.

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The Cabernet Sauvignon I’ve already looked at from Kiamie Wine Cellars is currently their lone varietal bottling. Their other two releases are both blends. The Kiamie Kuvée I’m looking at today is the flagship offering of their young brand.

The 2005 Kiamie Kuvée is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Syrah, 8% Malbec & 5% Zinfandel. Grapes were sourced from four distinct vineyards on the Westside of Paso Robles. The wine was aged for 18-20 months in 40% new French and Hungarian Oak. 1000 cases of the Kiamie Kuvée were produced and the suggested retail price is $44.

Bright berry fruit and vanilla notes fill the nose of the Kiamie Kuvée. The first sip reveals some tartness. This subsides after some time in the glass. Decanting this one for an hour or even two would be hugely beneficial at this point in this young wines life. Once it opens up dark jammy berry fruit and black pepper emerge. Black Cherry is the main story in the mid-palate with spice underpinning it. Subtle earthiness emerges in the finish, which is fairly lengthy.

I enjoy proprietary blends that go outside of he box. In this case what I mean is that they chose not to stick with just either Bordeaux or Rhone varietals. Kiamie Wine Cellars uses varietals from each of those areas. And in addition to that, the inclusion of Zinfandel seems like a nod not only to California, but specifically Paso Robles, which is known for some tremendously exciting Zinfandels.

The Kiame Wine Cellars Kuvée is a very good wine that needs some time to reach it’s full potential. Right now it’s a little tight. A year or so in the bottle should do wonders for this blend and it’s cohesiveness. After that it should drink nicely for 6 or more years. As with the Cabernet Sauvignon this is another solid effort, particularly for a premiere vintage. I’m looking forward to revisiting Kiamie Wine Cellars Kuvée in future vintages to see the strides and growth it experiences as time and vintages pass

Up Next: Kiamie Wine Cellars: White Kuvée..

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