Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2010

The 2007 vintage of this wine was ranked #9 on the Wine Spectator's Top 10 Wines of 2009

This vintage, we were fortunate to source 42 percent of our grapes from mature vineyards: Dutton-Cohen, Martinelli Home Ranch and Ritchie are all 35 years old. We then complemented this rich foundation with 33 percent Sauvignon Musque from Crinella, Dutton-Jewell and Meredith Estate. I have promoted the planting of this Bordeaux clone of Sauvignon Blanc, originally called Savagnin musque, for the past two decades and now benefit from the resulting opulent harvest!

We continue to barrel ferment all of this wine in seasoned French oak, 18 percent of which is new. This allows us to intensively stir the lies twice each week during aging, building palate richness and "muscle" along with depth of flavor. The wine is held in barrel for a full six months to allow its complexity to develop.

This wine "struts its stuff' in a sophisticated and stylish fashion. The aroma is floral and mouth­watering, layered with ripe melon, peach and subtle mineral highlights. In the mouth, it is rich and seamlessly well balanced, kicking in a hint of grapefruit, cirrus and pear on the lingering finish.