Almost an Island?

Presqu'ile Chardonnay

As the old saying goes, “no man is an island”, but Matt Murphy and Dieter Cronje, winemakers of Presqu’ile are good with “almost”.  Presqu’ile is French for “peninsula” (or almost an island) and it is the name that Murphy’s grandparents gave to a promontory of land they purchased off of the Missippi’s Gulf Coast.  It was a gathering spot for family celebrations for many years until hurricane Katrina destroyed it.   Years of fond memories inspired Matt Murphy to name his wine label Presqu’ile.

Dieter Cronje (L) and Matt Murphy (R) winemakers of Presqu'ile

I was fortunate enough to taste the Presqu’ile 2008 Chardonnay at the Chardonnay Symposium earlier this year.  Unfortunately, the bright sun conspired with my camera settings and my photos weren’t good – in fact they were really, really, bad.  (Thankfully their winemaking is way better than my photography.)  Suffice it to say, Presqu’ile is worth seeking out.  The Chardonnay fruit is from Solomon Hills and Bien Nacido and is cold fermented with native yeasts.  Some is aged in stainless steel and the rest in neutral French Oak.  This wine is too good to pour for your friends who insist they only like red wine…which leaves more for you!  Murphy and Cronje also make an incredibly bright and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc that you can find on the by-the-glass list at Full of Life Flatbread.   Now, you have yet another excuse to go to Flatbread this weekend.  =)  They also make a Pinot Noir, which I am looking forward to tasting soon.  For more information on Presqu’ile, check out this great article that the Santa Barbara Independent just published.   Until next time, remember life is too short to drink bad wine!