Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc naturally has both more freshness and more body than the 2020 tasted alongside it. Lemon confit, almonds, white flowers, chamomile and a hint of graphite give this dynamic layered Sauvignon tons of complexity. This is fabulous.
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Wine Spectator
This white's bold, expressive, aromatic and generous mix of mango, clementine and peach preserves, grilled pineapple and marmalade up front is juicy and plush. Details of lemon blossoms, green tea and white pepper linger on the long, expressive finish.
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James Suckling
Sliced melon and green apple. Lavender and other flowers. Medium body, crunchy and fruity with lovely sliced apple and melon.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
There are 450 cases of Ink Grade's 2021 Sauvignon Blanc. All Sauvignon Blanc, fermented and matured in a mix of concrete and oak vessels, it weighs in at a reported 12.5% alcohol, unusually low for Napa. The result is rather sedate on the nose, with hints of crushed stone and pencil shavings accenting restrained melon and fig notes. In the mouth, the wine is medium-bodied and silky textured, with a long, cool, refreshing finish. It's a step up from prior vintages.
Ink Grade, Howell Mountain’s first monopole estate, produces the appellation’s greatest classical wines. The estate vineyard was first planted with vines in the 1870s by visionary pioneer, Theron Ink. Farmed organically and biodynamically since its inception and spanning eight hundred wild acres, our Estate is dotted with vine plantings that nurture and respect the natural habitat. Among the steeply terraced vineyards that cling to the iron-rich volcanic soils, there is a wild purity and raw tension here that awakens the senses. Winemaker Matt Taylor, formerly of Araujo Estate and Domaine Dujac, captures this untamed nature and preserves it by producing elegant, single-estate wines that express the pristine mountain fruit and legacy of the land. To do so requires patience and presence, taking the time to listen to what a place has to say and what it will give. This is an art. This is Ink Grade.
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.