Deauratus Grenache Blanc Michaud Vineyard 2024 (750ml) *

Grenache Blanc is more often a supporting player in southern French blends than a solo act, which makes this a single-varietal bottling worth a look. Deauratus draws its fruit from Michaud Vineyard in Chalone, a high, sun-warmed pocket of California's Central Coast, and turns out a dry white in the 2024 vintage that leans toward freshness rather than weight.

Aromas run to stone fruit and citrus rind, with golden orchard fruit and a lift of orange peel and exotic spice that open up as the wine sits in the glass. The palate is nimble and refreshing, rounded and plush on the close, with a mineral edge threading through a core of succulent fruit.