Tercero Verbiage Blanc

Tercero Verbiage Blanc 2013: The back label of Larry Schaffer’s latest white Rhone blend claims, “I love to talk—a lot! I also love to make wine—a lot!” After tasting it you’ll say you love Verbiage Blanc—a lot!

A seamless mix of Roussanne (42%), Grenache Blanc (29%) and Viognier (29%), this wine has a sensuous mouthfeel without becoming unctuous and could work as a lovely first bottle of the evening or pair with foods with a bit of spice and heat (a sesame ginger chicken?) or a dollop of cream (shrimp with a garlic cream sauce?) and still sing along.

At $25 retail it packs plenty of exotic fruit flavor in perfect balance thanks to both the older French oak aging and the moderate alcohol level (13.5%).

See tercerowines.com.