Winemaker Notes
The Ehlers Estate Sauvignon Blanc is a pale yellow in color. In the nose a bouquet of yellow flowers, mandarin and lime peel aromas, coupled with pineapple, grapefruit and white peach. There are also nuanced aromas from the new oak, rich sweet baking spices, vanilla bean and caramel round out the nose. The mouthfeel is generous and intense with bright flavors, sweet pomelo, blood orange and lemon tart. The vibrant acidity is balanced by the creamy texture lent by the careful lees work during ageing.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
A persis- winery's lates special attent ful energy and Ehlers Estate winemaker L Díaz Muñoz. tent, summery perfume of peach, apricot, and tangerine blossom on the nose and palate inspires the profile of this vibrant white. A hint of white pepper and sweet basil engages midway, creating a zing on the tongue.
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Wine Enthusiast
Bright and fresh in grapefruit, lemon peel and wet stone, this wine was fermented and aged in concrete egg, French oak and stainless steel. Moderate body weight and length provide a welcome complexity to the layers of flavor and floral aroma, finishing in steely acidity.
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Wine Spectator
Blends an aromatic, honeysuckle-drenched mix of pineapple, apricot and citrus flavors with crisp, mouthwatering acidity. Features a hint of lemongrass on the finish, with plenty of intensity. 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.
St. Helena is in the heart of the Napa Valley, nestled between Calistoga to the north and Rutherford on its southern border. On its western side, the Mayacamas Mountains guard it from the cooling effects of the Pacific Ocean; to its east stand the Vaca Mountains. In conjunction, these mountain ranges serve to lock in summer daytime heat. But in the evening, cool air from the San Pablo Bay funnels up through the valley, creating very chilly nights. It isn’t uncommon for temperatures to drop 50 degrees, a shift that promotes a balance of sugar ripeness and acidity in wine grapes.
St. Helena contains a plethora of different soil types in a small area, which have been enhanced over centuries by rain runoff from both mountain ranges. Its vineyards cover a variety of terrain, spreading across the bucolic valley floor and its benchlands.
These ideal topographic and climatic growing conditions easily caught the attention of early winemaking pioneers. In fact, St. Helena is the birthplace of Napa Valley’s commercial wine industry. Dr. Crane founded his cellar in 1859, David Fulton in 1860 and Charles Krug in 1861.
Today there are no less than 400 separate vineyards planted within the 12,000 acres that make up the St. Helena appellation.
Revered most for its red wines based on Bordeaux varieties, namely Cabernet Sauvignon, the St. Helena appellation is also a source of superior Syrah, Zinfandel and Sauvignon blanc.