Winemaker Notes
Brings you to a screeching halt, braided metal, phantom vibrations, straight-shooter but a deep thinker, chicken n’ waffles, stumbling upon a yet-to-be-discovered Banksy, gooseberry meteor shower, freshly salted railroad, phyllo-crusted lychee, racing stripes.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The barrel-fermented 2022 Vela Sauvignon Blanc is scented of yellow peaches, tarragon, white pepper and river stone. The medium-bodied palate is packed with flavorful, herbal fruit. It has a gently grippy texture and soft bursts of juicy acidity that call you in for another sip.
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Wine Enthusiast
This bottling comes from grapes planted atop York Mountain, one of the most exciting appellations on the Central Coast right now. Aromas of lime, apple skin, white flowers and wet concrete lead from the nose into a palate that’s awash in a tight structure. Subtle flavors suggest Meyer lemon, grapefruit flesh and chalk.
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.
Located on the eastern side of the Santa Lucia Mountains and west of the Paso Robles AVA, the York Mountain AVA is only seven miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. With a strong marine influence and vineyards planted around 1,500 feet, York Mountain is cooler and wetter than the rest of Paso Robles.