Winemaker Notes
This is the first showing for our new Winemaker, Chris Stanton, and it doesn’t disappoint! 2017 bought us a vintage that is particularly light and crisp. Lightly sunkissed and tinged with a slight green hue, this California Sauv Blanc is reminiscent of a New Zealand style, with its grassy and lemon aroma with a hint of green apple and citrus abound! The pallet contains a tingly and tart acidity that coats the tongue that leaves a lingering spritz of pear and lemon lime. Food Pairings This Sauvignon Blanc would pair best with a goat cheese chevre with herbs and a side of prosciutto wrapped cantaloupe. Perfect for summer days by the pool.
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.
A geographic and climatic paradise for grape vines, Monterey is a part of the greater Central Coast AVA and contains within it five smaller sub-appellations, including Arroyo Seco, San Lucas, San Bernabe, Hames Valley and the famous Santa Lucia Highlands. The climate is relatively warm but tempered by cool, coastal winds, allowing the regions in Monterey County an exceptionally long growing season. Bud break often happens two weeks sooner and harvest tends to be two weeks later compared to other surrounding regions.
Monterey’s coastal side, where the cooling ocean fog allows grapes to develop a perfect sugar-acid balance, excels in the production of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling. Warmer, inland subzones are home to fleshy, concentrated and full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel.
Chardonnay, covering about 40% of vineyard acreage, is the most widely planted grape in all of Monterey County.