Winemaker Notes
It begins with an expressive aromatics of tropical fruits, lychee, green mango, key lime, wild spring flowers, moist grass and tangerine all taking shape. The mouthfeel is simply beautiful, with amazing texture and balance driven by flavors of tropical fruits, lime and pear which continue throughout. This is sensational right now, as it impresses with its freshness and purity, while also showing the ability to age.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a blend of equal parts Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc, barrel-fermented and aged in 40% new French oak for one year. It's fresh and alive in orange blossom aromatics and strong impressions of peach, pear and green apple. A bold streak of minerality gives it a hint of gravel and rock.
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Decanter
The grapes for this intense white barrel-fermented blend made by Steve Matthiasson come from vineyards in southern Napa; the Semillon grows in the valley’s oldest organic vineyard. It has the power and savour of an Australian white from Margaret River.
Drinking Window 2018 - 2024
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.
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.