Aurora, a blend of sauvignon blanc, sémillon and viognier, is the latest wine from Byron Blatty in Los Angeles. It’s the first white made by the winery, founded in 2014 by Mark Blatty, a native Angeleno who worked in television, and his wife, Jenny. Aurora is a rich, citric blend that announces its oak and should be nothing short of delicious in a couple of years. Mark Blatty concentrates on reds, like the other winemakers in Los Angeles County, a wine region undergoing a revival. (It had been the cradle of the state’s winemaking, dating back to Spanish monasteries like Mission San Gabriel.) “It’s a hot climate so red wines do better,” he said. “Besides, they’re our first love.” Grapes like syrah, Grenache and cabernet sauvignon go into big, expensive New World-style wines that have enough acidity to give them backbone and luxurious depth while keeping sweetness in check.
Aurora, $37, red wines $45 to $100, byronblatty.com.
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