Winemaker Notes
This smaller production Sauvignon Blanc has a stunning floral bouquet with hints of citrus rind, kiwi and toasted crème brulee. The use of large format cigar-type barrels really shows through as the extra lees contact gives the wine a wonderful texture and long finish. Initially, the palate displays notes of lemon meringue pie, vanilla and honeycomb. On the finish, there is a wet stone minerality and vibrant acidity that lingers on the palate. With all of the nuance and textural components in this wine, it will surely age gracefully for many years but is dazzling and full of energy in its youth.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Incorporating 3% Semillon, the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc is a rockingly good white offering textbook notes of lemon zest, white grapefruit, melon, and honeysuckle. With a Bordeaux Blanc-like character, it's medium-bodied, has good concentration, high yet integrated acidity, and a clean finish. It's beautifully done and should evolve for 3-4 years or more, although there's no need to delay gratification.
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Wine Spectator
This white has wonderful precision to the lemongrass, pomelo, Key lime and Meyer lemon flavors on the seamless, sleek and juicy frame, with lingering details of vetevier, beeswax and lemon verbena. 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.