Winemaker Notes
This Sauvignon Blanc is a very small, hand-crafted and artisan produced wine. The techniques used go back to the time Winemaker Simon Faury spent in Bordeaux working for one of the most renowned Sauvignon Blanc and white wine producers in the world, Domaine de Chevalier. First Merryvale uses the basket press, which delivers very low yields but extracts at low pressure giving only the best juices—the clearest with the highest acidity. This results in a wine that is deep and rich with aromas of stone fruit, citrus, guava and grapefruit. Fresh and lively on the mouth, our Sauvignon Blanc is very balanced with a nice weight and freshness overall. The finish is very floral with a touch of savory herbs.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Plenty of exotic fruit here with sliced-apple, mango and lemon aromas and flavors. Full body. Flavorful and delicious. Excellent. Sauvignon blanc and sauvignon musque. 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 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.