Winemaker Notes
A remarkable depth of flavor comes through: notes of lemon zest, honeysuckle, peach blossom, and quince are all elevated by a lovely acidity. A savory minerality layers itself among the appealing fruit flavors and hints at the complexity that will continue to reveal itself.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Flashy and pure, with aromas of sliced lemons, lime leaves, honeysuckle, orange blossoms, fresh ginger, fresh herbs, citrus oil and wet stones. The palate is medium-bodied with taut, mouthwatering acidity and a generously textured mid-palate that leads to a long finish. A standout New-World sauvignon blanc in a Bordeaux Blanc style, showing real tension. Excellent. Drink or hold.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from a mix of Sonoma and Napa fruit, the 2024 Illumination has a Bordeaux Blanc-like vibe in its ripe lime, orange blossom, mint, and spicy wood nuances. It brings plenty of sweet California fruit and is medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with bright acidity and a great finish. It's beautifully done and just an impeccable 100% Sauvignon Blanc from California.
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Decanter
A multidimensional Sauvignon Blanc with both breadth and precision. Lime zest, lime blossom and tarragon laced with vanilla draw you in. Grapefruit, kumquat and crushed Marcona almonds thread through the first wave of flavours. Excellent medium-bodied concentration carries a penetrating core of pithy fruit, warming spice from barrel ageing, and a fresh, focused finish marked by a backbone of zesty acidity and tension. Hand-picked grapes are pressed with whole clusters, and the juice is native fermented in new and neutral French oak barrels, acacia barrels, and stainless steel barrels as well as egg-shaped concrete fermenters.
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Wine Spectator
Fragrant, effusive and charming, with notes of honeysuckle and orange blossoms up front giving way to a creamy mix of mango, orange sherbet and lemon curd. Spicy accents of candied ginger, litsea oil and salted, preserved lemon join a drizzle of wildflower honey and linger on the long, impressive finish. Drink now through 2036. 5,000 cases made.
Illumination first emanated from this little vineyard, appearing in limited circles. Quickly, its rays penetrated the palates of sommeliers, friends and guests who requested Illumination for their own cellars and restaurants. We searched for more grapes from nearby vineyards in Rutherford and the cooler southern regions of Napa Valley always seeking vineyards with alluvial soils and limited yields to provide concentration, mineral notes and bright, vibrant character.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.