Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Illumination is expressive and alive with complex aromas, bright flavors, and beautiful texture. On the nose, notes of grapefruit, kumquat, and guava are layered with floral notes of peach blossom, fresh herbs and hay, creating an immediate sensation of freshness. On the palate, the wine continues with flavors of stone fruit, lemon zest, and a distinctive creamy yet mineral texture. This wine is precise and bright, with a fresh and flavorful finish.
Blend: 61% Sauvignon Blanc Musque, 24% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Semillon
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is a really beautiful, with dried apple, pear and green melon, as well as some white pineapple. Cement and crushed stone, too. It’s full-bodied with a creamy texture and a flavorful, caressing finish. Energetic zest at the end. 61% Napa County and 39% Sonoma County. Drink or hold.
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Wine Spectator
Stands out for its fresh, fragrant profile, with fresh grated ginger, lemongrass and orange blossom notes and a core of mango and citrus flavors. There's a sleek, seamlessness here, and a mouthwatering finish.
Illumination first emanated from this little vineyard, appearing in limited circles. Quickly, its rays penetrated the palates of sommeliers, friends and guests who requested Illumination for their own cellars and restaurants. We searched for more grapes from nearby vineyards in Rutherford and the cooler southern regions of Napa Valley always seeking vineyards with alluvial soils and limited yields to provide concentration, mineral notes and bright, vibrant character.
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.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.