Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Charles Thomas blends sauvignon and semillon from the gravelly clay loam soils of Rudd's vineyard on Mt. Veeder. He doesn't inoculate the fermentation in any of the three vessels used: concrete eggs, wooden barrels and stainless steel barrels. In 2008, the blend produced a firm, luscious wine with compelling earthy character, a contrast of bright orange citrus notes and darker forest floor aspects. Oak builds the wine's textural weight without getting in the way of the fruit, rounding out the fruit-skin bitterness and setting up a match with boudin blanc.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Rudd's 2008 Sauvignon Blanc from Mt. Veeder is a brilliant effort. Composed of 87% Sauvignon Blanc and 13% Semillon aged in new and used French oak as well as stainless steel and concrete eggs, it offers up wonderful aromas of honeyed melons, subtle smoke, orange blossom, and a hint of gun flint. This medium-bodied Sauvignon has the texture of a top-notch white Burgundy and the aromatics of a complex Sauvignon. It should drink nicely for several years.
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.
Centered at the peak for which it is named, Mount Veeder is Napa’s largest sub-AVA. But even though the entire appellation spreads over 16,000 acres, vineyards cover a mere 1,000. Scattered among Douglas firs and bristlecone pines, Mount Veeder vineyards extend south from the upper elevations of the Mayacamas Mountains—the highest point at 2,400 feet—to the border of the Carneros region. Less than 25 wineries produce wine from Mount Veeder fruit.
Winemaking began early in this appellation. In 1864, Captain Stelham Wing presented the first Mount Veeder wine to the Napa County Fair; it came from today’s Wing Canyon Vineyard. Prohibition, of course, halted winemaking and viticulture wasn’t revitalized until the founding of Mayacamas Vineyards in 1951 and Bernstein Vineyards in 1964.
The Bernstein Vineyards was actually home to the first Petit Verdot in California, planted in 1975. Today most of the Petit Verdot in Napa Valley originates from this vineyard.
Rocky volcanic clay and ancient seabed matter dominate Mount Veeder soils—perfect for Bordeaux varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot enjoy spectacular success. These varieties produce wines rich in brambly blackberry and black cherry fruit with herbal and floral aromatics. Structures are moderate to assertive and wines have great staying power.
Chardonnay from Mount Veeder is lush, full and balanced mineral and fresh citrus flavors.