Winemaker Notes
The 10th vintage of Accendo Cellars Sauvignon Blanc off ers an alluring nose with zesty aromas of lemon curd, pink peppercorn, and a gardenia-filled garden. A green bouquet of lavender, chamomile, sage and mint are complemented by fragrant raw honey. Racy acidity and a hint of salinity give the palate a beautiful lift, while waxy minerality adds a soft, creamy texture, enhancing a long, elegant finish.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is fabulous, especially for a year that was so dry and warm. Light on its feet and gracious, with sublime balance, the 2022 is seriously impressive. Lemon confit, sage, tobacco, mint and dried flowers all grace this impeccable Sauvignon Blanc.
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Wine Spectator
A stunning expression, with white pepper, lemon thyme, sage and lemon basil notes up front on a sleek frame of pomelo, yuzu and Meyer lemon. Sea salt, fresh lime and lemon curd details linger, with an accent of toasted green tea. Drink now through 2034. 543 cases made.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Accendo's 2022 Sauvignon Blanc combines fruit from the Araujo's home property in Oakville (Rancho Pequeño) with the Ehrlich Vineyard (also in Oakville) and the Juliana Vineyard in Pope Valley. It's 71% Sauvignon Blanc, 19% Sémillon and 10% Sauvignon Musqué, fermented and aged in a combination of new and used French oak barrels, plus some stainless steel drums. Citrus notes are joined by hints of fig and melon on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is creamy in feel, finishing with gentle silky nuances, bright, fresh and long.
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.
One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.
The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. White wines from Napa Valley are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that claim specific wine characteristics based on situation, slope and soil. Farthest south and coolest from the influence of the San Pablo Bay is Carneros, followed by Coombsville to its northeast and then Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Above those are the warm St. Helena and the valley's newest and hottest AVA, Calistoga. These areas follow the valley floor and are known generally for creating rich, dense, complex and smooth red wines with good aging potential. The mountain sub appellations, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs, include Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley (farther east), Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain District and Diamond Mountain District. Napa Valley wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from a lot of time in the bottle to evolve and soften.