Winemaker Notes
Aromas of crisp apple and meadowgrass lift from the glass of this stylish Sauvignon Blanc, alongside slightly riper notes of white peach, kiwi and orange blossom. On the palate, the entry is bright and soft, with an expanding mid-palate that echoes the fruit notes but is buoyed by deeper notes of vanilla, caramel and toasted almond. While the oak plays as an undertone to the expressive fruit, it also adds structure and depth to the finish.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is a very pretty, extroverted wine. Lemon confit, marzipan, tangerine oil and sweet white flowers lend an exotic flair. Pliant and creamy in the glass, with terrific mid-palate depth, the Keever Sauvignon Blanc is a total delight.
Keever Vineyards happens to always tell a great story through their wines. Started in 1999, this small family owned and operated winery is located in the rocky hills of Napa Valley just southwest of Yountville. They farm a 6.5 acre vineyard planted to four clones of Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Sauvignon Blanc. Their wines are handcrafted by one of California’s top winemakers Celia Welch of Scarecrow, Corra & Buccella fame. Made in very small quantities, their wines are collectable, age-worthy, and stunningly unique.
“Wine is more than our business. We live every day among the vines and barrels, guarding them with care and love. Our stewardship of our land and our wines, our dedication to this craft and our family, result in wines that perfectly express both the seasons past and the dreams to come." -The Keever Family
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.