Ironstone Obsession California Symphony 2005

Price: $7
Maker: Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys, California
Varietal: Symphony
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 12%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Ironstone Obsession California Symphony 2005 is a moderately sweet white wine made from Symphony grapes, which are a California varietal derived from Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris in the 1960s. Its nose has floral, pear, and sweet melon notes. The flavor features peach, cantaloupe, pear, and honey. It’s saved from being too cloying and sweet by a tingly, acidic finish. We found it to be eminently drinkable.

We served this at a small party and it was a huge hit with the ladies. There wasn’t a drop left at the end of the evening, and several went to the trouble of writing down the details so they could shop for it themselves. The San Francisco Chronicle notes, “Its aroma is strongly floral, with some star anise. It’s very slightly sparkling (’frizzante’ is the technical term), and its flavors are reminiscent of a good Gewurztraminer: strongly floral, with notes of Meyer lemon and prickles of pepper on the finish.” So, if you are looking for an inexpensive, slightly different, crowd-pleasing white wine, try the Ironstone Symphony.