Winemaker Notes
The flagship wine, the Tradition Sauvignon Blanc elevates the purity of the variety through stainless steel fermentation and ten months of sur lie aging. The 2019 Tradition Sauvignon Blanc showcases an amalgamation of tropical and citrus fruit flavors on the palate. Stainless steel fermentation and lees stirring provide bright fruit flavors and a textured mouthfeel, tempering the mouthwatering natural acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Tradition, matured seven months in stainless steel on the lees, offers expressive kiwi, lime peel and lemongrass with undertones of graphite and cut grass. Light-bodied and gently rounded, the palate is fresh, bright and expressive, finishing with a pleasant herbal lift. Best After 2022
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Jeb Dunnuck
There are two Sauvignon Blancs. Looking first at the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Tradition, it's a Bordeaux Blanc look-alike with impressive peach, citrus, subtle mineral, and toasted almond notes in its medium-bodied, soft, forward, yet balanced and delicious style. It's going to shine on the dinner table and be incredibly versatile.
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.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.