Rodney Strong Charlotte's Home Sauvignon Blanc 1998

The 1998 growing season was one of the coolest and longest in recent history. We picked Charlotte's Home vineyard and our two other Sauvignon Blanc vineyards the first two weeks in October, compared to 1997 when we brought in our first fruit nearly two months earlier! The long cool season and the slightly lower sugar at harvest proved to be advantageous as we succeeded in making a crisp wine with exceptional balance and an abundance of flavor. The fully mature fruit from Charlotte's Home imparted its tropical and citrus notes and our additional Alexander Valley vineyards added flavors of melon and hay. After whole cluster pressing 25% was fermented in new American oak barrels and underwent malolactic while the remaining 75% was cold fermented in stainless steel. This technique yields a touch of lush creaminess and crisp fruit flavors, including passion fruit and pineapple, citrus tones and pineapple, citrus tones and a hint of vanilla from its brief time in oak.

I like Charlotte's Home Sauvignon Blanc with an herbed shellfish pasta, grilled halibut or Oysters Rockefeller. -Rick Sayre, Winemaker