Winemaker Notes
Duckhorn Vineyards has been crafting Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc since 1982. Expanding on this winemaking tradition, Decoy Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc allows our winemaking team the opportunity to explore a different expression of this great grape from another recognized California appellation.
This bright and aromatic wine offers enticing layers of lemon and lime zest, as well as lovely notes of honeydew and nectarine. On the palate, refreshing acidity mingles with a subtle undercurrent of sweet fruit that carries through to a refreshing, vibrant finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: More than just an ordinary white dinner wine, Sauvignon Blancs in the $15 to $20 range are often some of the best wines in the marketplace. The 2017 Decoy Sauvignon Blanc is poised to do a great job at the dinner table. Pair its aromas and flavors of dried citrus and herbs with raw baby spinach, cucumbers, cocktail shrimp, and an accent of jalapeños. (Tasted: September 10, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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.