Winemaker Notes
Fresh aromas of Meyer lemon, grapefruit, and pineapple leap from the glass in this vibrant yet complex Sauvignon Blanc. Bright acidity and crisp minerality frame the palate with lingering flavors of white nectarine, lemongrass, apricot, and tangerine
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Aged in stainless steel and neutral French oak, this wine made with 17% Sémillon exudes focused aromas of lime zest, basil, and green tea. Floral tones venture across the palate on a tightrope of acidity. Honeysuckle, candied ginger, and lemongrass are streamlined on the salty, stony finish.
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James Suckling
This shows beautiful texture, with sliced grapefruit, pears, flowers and hints of fennel. Medium-bodied, dry and crisp, with crushed stone notes. Shows the beauty of well-made sauvignon blanc. A blend of 83% sauvignon blanc and 17% semillion.
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Vinous
The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Estate is superb. Ample and textured, with fine balance, the 2023 dazzles from start to finish. Lemon peel, mint, white pepper and a kiss of French oak build nicely. Tropical overtones from the inclusion of Sauvignon Musqué in this blend add an attractive exotic flair.
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Jeb Dunnuck
From the Riverbend Vineyard and aged in 60% new oak, the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Estate has a light gold hue and classic varietal aromatics of bright citrus, grapefruit, and minty, sappy herbs. It's bright, refreshing, and racy on the palate, with good acidity, medium body, and a great finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Lush and exuberant aromatics of lemongrass and pineapple are lifted in the palate by a refreshing salted accent and dried grasses. Bursting acidity with a silken texture carries this wine into a lengthy finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 83% Sauvignon Blanc and 17% Sémillon, Clos du Val's 2023 Sauvignon Blanc displays pungent hints of boxwood along with scents of passion fruit and lime. Only medium-bodied on the palate, it's rather linear compared to many Napa Sauvignon Blancs, focused and refreshing at the expense of some textural richness.
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Wine Spectator
Sleek and aromatic, with white pepper, ginger, honeysuckle and lemon blossom notes that complement the vibrant pomelo and yuzu flavors at the core, plus a hint of sea salt. Impressive for its purity and length. Drink now. 2,255 cases made.
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 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.