90
points
Occasio 2010 Del Arroyo Vineyard Fumé Blanc (Livermore Valley)
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$24
John Kinney is doing great things with Livermore Valley fruit, most especially with many of his whites, including this classically oaked Fumé Blanc, the grapes barrel-fermented in 100% French oak (Seguin Moreau and Taransaud) and left sur lie for six months, Montrachet style. Creamy but bright with aromatics of caramel and vanilla, but only 50 cases were made.
— V.B.
(12/31/2011)
89
points
Occasio 2010 Del Arroyo Vineyard Chardonnay (Livermore Valley)
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$28
Occasio, which has made a nice Fume Blanc for a couple of vintages now, is giving the world this, its first Chardonnay, a true to its French-oak-fermented style that's quite citrus-laden, tart, lean and mean and yet voluptuous, with its barrel age showing, and toasty on the finish.
— V.B.
(2/1/2012)