Cultivar Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2018
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James
Suckling
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James Suckling
A white with sliced-apple and fennel character. Medium to full body. Flavorful finish. Drink now.
Cultivar Wines was started by Jody Harris, and Gingy Harris Gable, founders of Caspar Estate Wines. The Estate is a 25 acre property located above the Napa Valley in the Rutherford Appellation. It has been family owned and operated since 1960, practicing organic and sustainable farming techniques to preserve, protect and maintain the environment. The property, which now contains fruit trees, over 800 Mission olive trees and about a quarter million honey bees, is an ideal setting for growing grapes, too. About 13 acres of vineyards were planted for Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot grapes. Caspar Estate wines express the unique terroir of the land, with firm tannins, fresh acidity, and remarkable structure. With 400-500 cases produced annually, Caspar Estate wine is offered by Allocation only. Click here to learn more.
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.