Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is a solid, compelling white with lots of dried apple, vanilla, cooked peaches and pears. Apricots, too. Full-bodied, dense and layered, yet it remains fresh and vivid. Structured. Excellent depth and length. Wonderful finish. A unique white for Napa. Drink or hold.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Fermented and aged in new French oak barrels for a full yearand-a-half, there is simply nothing else quite like Lail’s flagship Sauvignon Blanc, and the latest version remains one of California’s most complex and involving examples to be found. It reins in the variety’s grassier traits and opts for stone fruits, flowers and sweet lemon curd with inklings of freshly baked bread, and it is both full and firm in balance with terrific fruity stamina and tactile length. If not inexpensive, it is remarkably sophisticated stuff and there is little question but that it will only grow and become even more interesting yet if allowed to rest in the cellar for another half-dozen years and, perhaps, more.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A step up, the 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Georgia comes all from the Totem Vineyard and was fermented and aged in slightly more new French oak and aged longer as well. It's a richer, more complex Sauvignon Blanc and offers beautiful ripe citrus, orange blossom, quince, and brioche notes. With some distinct minerality, medium to full body, terrific length, and just loads of character, it's another class act from this team.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Georgia Sauvignon Blanc was fermented and aged 18 months in 100% new French oak and comes from vineyards in Yountville. It comes pirouetting out of the glass with gorgeous honeyed white peaches, pink grapefruit and lime blossoms notes plus hints of crushed stones, wild thyme and cedar. Medium-bodied, the palate reveals a compelling satiny texture with super-intense flavors and loads of layers, finishing long and honey laced. 402 cases produced. Rating: 94+
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Wine Spectator
Distinctive and focused, featuring a laser beam of lemon curd, peach and honeysuckle flavors, set on a succulent frame that gives way to details of candied ginger and mandarin orange, with a vibrant, crisp finish that goes on and on. Drink now.
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 Napa Valley's most historic sub-appellations, Yountville spreads through some of the valley's ideal cooler sites and enjoys success with a handful of different and significant grape varieties.
Syrah competes strongly with Cabernet Sauvignon here for optimal vineyard real estate followed by Pinot noir, Pinot blanc and Sauvignon blanc.
This sub-AVA of Napa Valley is rich in the history that makes Napa Valley what it is today, and not just for red wines. Moët & Chandon entered the California winemaking business via Yountville in 1973 with the establishment Domaine Chandon. Their goal has always been to produce top quality méthode champenoise sparkling wines.
Christian Moueix, originally responsible for managing Chateau Petrus and La Fleur-Petrus in Pomerol, arrived in Yountville in the early 1980s. He formed a partnership with Rohin Lail and Marcia Smith, inheritors of Napanook vineyard from their father John Daniel of Inglenook in Rutherford. In 1995 Moueix became sole owner of Napanook and chose the name Dominus, which today produces some of Napa’s highest scoring, age-worthy Bordeaux Blends.