Winemaker Notes
This wine offers fresh aromas of lemongrass, green apples, and Meyer lemons. On the palate, it delivers vibrant flavors of wet stone, pineapple, grapefruit, and lime zest, combining minerality with bright citrus notes.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is a bold, explosive wine. Soaring varietal notes make a strong opening statement. Sage, tomato leaf, dried flowers, herbs and citrus leap from the glass. Even with all of its aromatic intensity, the 2023 has gorgeous mid-palate presence and a level of textural depth that is often missing in wines made in this style. The blend of sites in Pope Valley, Calistoga and Carneros works so well.
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine is zesty, with aromas of ripe lemon, baked apple, dried herbs, lilies and mineral on the nose. On the palate, flavors of pink grapefruit, dried apricot, cinnamon and orange-blossom honey are layered with lemongrass, mineral and dry, juicy finish. Pair with crab cakes with mango relish.
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Wine Spectator
Vibrant, aromatic and intense, with lemongrass, lemon balm and grilled lemon flavors up front giving way to supple expressions of lemon curd, mango puree and lime sherbet. Mouthwatering acidity keeps everything in focus, with extra passion fruit grace notes, ginger accents and a hint of green tea.
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James Suckling
White nectarines, guavas, white flowers and hints of raw almonds on the nose. Focused and bright, with medium body and a polished texture. Fresh and tangy
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, matured for six months in stainless steel, has pure aromas of white peach, tarragon, petrichor and cut grass. The light-bodied palate features concentrated, layered flavors. It balances a gently creamy texture with fireworks of fresh acidity and has a long, energetic finish.
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.