Winemaker Notes
The 48th vintage of Fumé Blanc is a beautiful wine that emanates the classic Dry Creek Vineyard “house” style of Sauvignon Blanc. At first swirl, aromatics of Meyer lemon, kaffir lime, guava, pineapple and grapefruit leap forward from the glass with nuances of cucumber, lemongrass and white pepper. On the palate, the wine is bright and refreshing with flavors of Meyer lemon, kaffir lime, passionfruit and white peach with underlying minerality and hints of fresh cut grass and jalapeño. This wine is mouthwatering and delicious with lovely intensity and a clean, pure finish.
Professional Ratings
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Dry Creek Vineyard Fumé Blanc remains one of California's most remarkable and consistent wines. I recall tasting the 1973 vintage when it was released (circa 1975), and I may have even tried the 1972 vintage, the winery's first year of production. I'll have to dig into my ancient journals to find it I did. TASTING NOTES: The newest vintage is predictably at the top of its game. Its aromas and flavors of dried spices, herbs, tangy citrus, and chalk invite a plate of raw oysters in the quiet of the backyard. (Tasted: July 12, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
-
Wine Spectator
This crisp, intense white offers notes of green apple, lime zest and fresh grated ginger, with plenty of lemon verbena, showing Meyer lemon and tangerine flavors at the core. Impressive for its clarity and mouthwatering finish, on a sleek frame. Drink now.
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.