Winemaker Notes
The 2021 Captûre Sauvignon Blanc from high atop Pine Mountain is as fresh and intriguing as the vineyard itself. Explosive aromas of key lime, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and pineapple slowly subside allowing the softer notes of white peach, green apple, lemon meringue and orange blossom guide you into the glass. The aroma isn’t complete without the vineyards trademark hint of savory mountain scrub best described as soft chamomile or dried sage. On the palate, the first sip is electric. The natural acidity is extremely bright and showcased by the varieties trademark citrus fruits, which are then joined by more floral and tropical flavors that battle to be the most pronounced the longer you explore. The initial flavors then give way to minerality, an elegant texture and an overall softness that is achieved through lees stirring and is the secret in balancing the high acidity. This balancing act is what makes this wine so mouthwatering and almost irresistible for that next sip.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Pine Mountain comes from vines planted at 2,900 feet of elevation, and the wine was matured for 10 months in puncheons, stainless steel and amphorae. It has bright aromas of white peach, kiwi, lime peel, beeswax and candle smoke. The light-bodied palate is concentrated and textural with perfumed flavors, energetic acidity and a long, mineral-driven finish.
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Wine Spectator
Lip-smacking, with fresh acidity and lemon sherbet, lemongrass, Honeycrisp apple and lime zest flavors. Reveals a distinctive thread of minerality on the finish, ending with precision. 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.
One of the highest growing appellations in California as well as the smallest, Pine Mountain incidentally extends into both Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Its vineyards range from 1,600 to about 3,000 feet in elevation at the top of Pine Mountain.