Winemaker Notes
Black Stallion Estate Winery Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc opens with vibrant, tropical aromas of mango, lemongrass, and honeysuckle, complemented by flavors of lime, lemon, ripe tropical fruit, and jasmine. This wine offers bright acidity, light to medium-body and a remarkable finish. The beauty of this wine offers three dimensions of aroma and flavor: tropical, citrus, and hints of grass notes.
Blend: 98.6% Sauvignon Blanc, 1% Vermentino, .4% Albarino
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Lemon curd, guava, yoghurt and crushed stones on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with crisp acidity, yet with a creamy, dense texture. Smoky finish. Drink now.
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.
As one of Napa’s coolest sub-appellations, the area begs for diversity among its vineyards. Merlot and Chardonnay firmly compete with Cabernet Sauvignon for a place here. Some of Napa’s best Zinfandels also come from the Oak Knoll District.
Situated far in Napa’s southern end, Oak Knoll receives a strong cooling influence from both the San Pablo Bay and the Pacific Coast’s evening fog and breezes. Summer days are warm but on average ten degrees cooler than in St. Helena farther north up the valley; summer nights are chilly. A long growing season promotes for leisurely ripening of grape berries, resulting in an impressive balance of sugars, phenols and acidity.
Notable producers include Trefethen, one of the appellation’s oldest wineries, Robert Biale, legendary Zinfandel producer and Lewis Cellars, a family-run, hands-on establishment.