Winemaker Notes
Aromatically the wine is perfumed with white flowers, citrus fruits, and hints of clay. On the palate the wine has moderate acidity with bright flavors of lemon pith, white peach, with balancing notes of minerality and salinity.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A dazzling, eye-opening, tightly wound white that's so racy, acid-driven and mouthwatering. Crisp grapefruit, green apple, lemon zest, white stone and mineral flavors with a saline accent. 87% sauvignon blanc, 12% semillon and 1% sauvignon gris. From organically grown grapes. Terrific now after decanting, but best from 2028.
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Decanter
From their Mount Veeder estate, a blend of Sauvignon Gris and Sémillon. Didier Dagueneau and Jean-Bernard Delmas visited the property and advised Rudd on what to plant. The Sémillon adds mid-palate richness, while the Sauvignon Gris brings tension and length. Fermented in oak, amphora, and concrete, with no malolactic fermentation. Light lees stirring and aged for eight months before bottling. Super lean and chalky-mineral bright, with fragrant sea grass and an attractive mix of citrus, stone, and orchard fruit. Medium-bodied, with a striking vein of crisp acidity, a firm mid-palate of lemon and lime citrus, and crunchy almonds.
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Wine Spectator
Powerful, sleek and mouthwatering, offering a mix of mango, salted lime and pomelo flavors. A hint of litsea oil adds a smoky thread, along with vetiver, lemongrass and wild fennel notes. The body is smooth and polished, with mouthwatering acidity through the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2035.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Based on 87% Sauvignon Blanc, 12% Semillon, and 1% Sauvignon Gris and aged eight months in 49% neutral French oak, 32% concrete, 10% amphorae, and 9% new oak, the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc offers up a brilliant perfume of ripe melon, honeyed lemon, spice, and floral nuances. Medium-bodied, with a layered, rounded mouthfeel, terrific balance, and outstanding length, this impeccably made Sauvignon Blanc will keep for 7-8 years if well stored. Drink 2025-2033.
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.