Winemaker Notes
Grassini is an exceptional vineyard located upon small hills and river benches of
well drained, super fine clay loam soils and serpentinite. The vineyard is
meticulously managed and farmed to their specifications for low yields and high
quality. We purchase these grapes from several distinct blocks in the vineyard and
farm them on a per acre basis, so that we can control all farming practices,
including pruning, canopy management, yield control, irrigation and differential
harvesting of portions of their blocks.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Grassini Family Vineyard has pretty scents of apricot and nectarine with accents of tarragon, lime leaves, beeswax and flint. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and elegant with concentrated yet understated flavors, plenty of balancing acidity and a long finish with dynamic flavor layers. Generous and energetic, it's beautiful today but offers 5-7+ years' aging potential.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the two single vineyard releases, the 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Grassini Family Vineyard is 100% Sauvignon Blanc and offers exotic notes of ripe citrus, orange blossom, honeyed flowers, and brioche, with a kiss of background minerality. Rich and medium-bodied, with beautiful balance and a great finish, it's a richer example of this cuvée that still brings plenty of freshness and vibrancy.
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James Suckling
Plenty of grapefruit and sliced lemon with some stone. Full-bodied and layered. Fruit driven and flavorful at the end. Aged 15 to 17 months in used wood. Drink or hold.
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.
On the eastern end of the Santa Ynez Valley, the rolling hills of the tiny Happy Canyon AVA produce top quality reds from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and whites from Sauvignon blanc. The region’s low-nutrient soil grows smaller vines and in turn, higher quality wine grapes.