Winemaker Notes
A blend of 74% Sauvignon Blanc and 26% Semillon, the 2019 Arietta white wine jolts the palate with a burst of positive energy. It is incredibly fresh, with notes of meyer lemon, white peach, and orange peel mingling with hints of vanilla bean, pie crust, and rushing river. The aromas are brilliant, showing a panoply of subtle floral scents—star jasmine, gardenia, and magnolia, among others. Aging on the lees for 9 months brings a breadth to the wine, making the finish bright and expansive. While fruit and freshness are the main appeal right now, this wine will certainly cellar well, as is the case for previous vintages of On the White Keys.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A blend of 74% Sauvignon Blanc and 26% Sémillon, this superb white is robust and complex, with a sophisticated structure and lively underlying acidity. Hints of nutmeg, honey and flint meet a serious palate of tension and length.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Checking in as a blend of 74% Sauvignon Blanc and 26% Semillon, the 2019 White Wine On The White Keys offers a Bordeaux Blanc-like bouquet of lemon curd, dried pineapple, crushed stone-like minerality, and white flowers. This carries to a medium-bodied, richer style of Sauvignon Blanc with good mid-palate concentration, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. It’s a rock-solid Bordeaux Blanc look-alike to drink over the coming 4-5 years or so.
Sometimes light and crisp, other times rich and creamy, Bordeaux White Blends typically consist of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Often, a small amount of Muscadelle or Sauvignon Gris is included for added intrigue. Popularized in Bordeaux, the blend is often mimicked throughout the New World. Somm Secret—Sauternes and Barsac are usually reserved for dessert, but they can be served before, during or after a meal. Try these sweet wines as an aperitif with jamón ibérico, oysters with a spicy mignonette or during dinner alongside hearty Alsatian sausage.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.