Winemaker Notes
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Young and fresh with light but evident notes of grasses, melons and citrus, this attractive Sauvignon Blanc will please all except those who want unbridled greenness in their wines. It is a touch viscous in underlying texture but is keenly balanced by pert, racy acidity, and its mix of supple and vitality, tied to inviting fruit, is going to hold it in good stead for years to come if you, like us, are inclined to let wines like this age into greater complexity. It will easily handle three to five years of cellaring, and, like the best of its breed, could last even longer.
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Wine & Spirits
A bright, citrusy sauvignon, this starts off brashly oaked but mellows with air to orange blossom tones, the fruit shining through the wood. Chill it for a shellfish stew.
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 some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.