Winemaker Notes
The 2022 Estates Fumé Blanc offers a beautiful snapshot of the Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon coming out of our Oakville Vineyard. Sauvignon Blanc provides vibrant fruit and acidity while Sémillon rounds out the body with its rich, creamy texture.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Fumé Blanc reminds me of a great Pessac-Léognan Blanc and offers a classy, pure, balanced style that's just a joy to drink. Honeyed citrus, chalky minerality, minty flowers, and a kiss of white pepper all shine in this medium-bodied, focused, lively white that brings rock-solid intensity and depth while staying balanced. It's impeccably made, and while I love it today, I wouldn't be shocked to see it evolve gracefully over the coming 10-12 years.
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James Suckling
A mouth-filling, complex take on sauvignon blanc sourced from Mondavi's own To Kalon vineyard. It offers light herbs like tarragon and thyme, then bright, bold citrus and snappy green apple flavors on the mid-palate and finish. Largely barrel-fermented and using 23% new French oak. Shows good depth, balance and length.
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Wine Spectator
Fleshy and juicy, like biting into a juicy white peach, with accents of fresh ginger and yellow apple, plus whiffs of lanolin and honeycomb that add a savory element. Hints of litsea oil and marmalade linger on the long finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Largely barrel fermented and matured (8% was made in concrete), the 2022 Fume Blanc The Estates spent 10 months in 20% new French oak. A blend of 92% Sauvignon Blanc and 8% Sémillon, it shows a distinctive smoky, fumé character on the nose alongside hints of pencil shavings, melon and fig notes. It's medium to full-bodied and reasonably expansive and generous on the palate, then tightens up on the lingering 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.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.