Winemaker Notes
Refreshingly crisp and dry, brimming with tropical citrus and minerality. A balanced rich, round mouthfeel. This wine has inspiring aromas of lemon zest, key lime, white peach and almond alongside delicate white floral notes. Bursts of Meyer lemon, green apple, honey blossom and wet slate dominate the palate while introducing hints of lemon curd and fresh-baked brioche on the long finish. We recommend you enjoy this bottle poolside, perhaps with crispy fish tacos or a fresh, green summer salad.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Fermented and aged in both French barrels and stainless steel, this white is fresh and lively, offering textured layers of green apple and Meyer lemon. It has a pungent floral component that further brightens the nose and long-lasting palate of wet stone and grip.
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Wine Spectator
Offers intriguing, distinctive notes of candied ginger and marmalade, with a whiff of beeswax up front, leading to a mouthwatering, fresh mix of Asian pear, white grapefruit and peach flavors. Appealingly precise, with deft acidity imparting focus. Refreshing finish. Drink now through 2029.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Gamble Family Vineyards is bright, zesty, and lingering. TASTING NOTES: This wine shows a lot of upsides. Its aromas and flavors exhibit dried leather, wild herbs, and dried citrus that stay long and zesty through the wine's finish. Enjoy with fresh salmon sashimi. (Tasted: February 20, 2020, Yountville, CA)
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.
One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.
The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. White wines from Napa Valley are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that claim specific wine characteristics based on situation, slope and soil. Farthest south and coolest from the influence of the San Pablo Bay is Carneros, followed by Coombsville to its northeast and then Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Above those are the warm St. Helena and the valley's newest and hottest AVA, Calistoga. These areas follow the valley floor and are known generally for creating rich, dense, complex and smooth red wines with good aging potential. The mountain sub appellations, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs, include Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley (farther east), Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain District and Diamond Mountain District. Napa Valley wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from a lot of time in the bottle to evolve and soften.