Smith Story Lakota's View Semillon 2016 Front Bottle Shot
Smith Story Lakota's View Semillon 2016 Front Bottle Shot Smith Story Lakota's View Semillon 2016 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

The 2016 Sémillon from our tiny block on Sonoma Mountain is full of power this year. Fresh summer peach and lime on the nose along with cool mineral notes. Layers of wound up texture which develop in the glass with air. Bright and energetic on the palate showing flavours of chilled stone fruits, pear and young spring herbs. The finish is juicy with lingering length. Our 3rd release of Sémillon from this very special place. 3 barrels made. This is such a sentimental wine for Smith Story Wine Cellars. As we drove onto this vineyard for the first time chills ran down our arms and our memories were filled with "Lakota's View". The view directly east from the S?émillon rows looks to a beautiful three-story French Farmhouse nestled high above the valley on Bennett Ridge. This Farmhouse just happens to be owned by our dear friends Bob and Kathy. In May of 2004 Eric's beloved Golden Retriever, Lakota, spent his last days at the Bellino home, soaking in the golden sunshine and breathtaking views from their wrap-around porch - the porch that faces directly towards the top of Sonoma Mountain and the Alta Ridge Vineyard. Lakota was an exceptionally beautiful golden retriever who was Eric's loyal companion for many years and took part in many adventures. The Lakota's View S?émillon has big paws to fill and we couldn't be more pleased with this gorgeous wine proudly honoring and celebrating Lakota's life. Picked at 21 Brix and busting with vibrant, natural acidity. With the high elevation and cool breeze, the S?émillon had a nice long time to develop deep and complex flavors while hanging on the vine atop of the Alta Ridge Vineyard (same vineyard which we picked Sauvignon Blanc).
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Sémillon has the power to create wines with considerable structure, depth and length that will improve for several decades. It is the perfect partner to the vivdly aromatic Sauvignon Blanc. Sémillon especially shines in the Bordeaux region of Sauternes, which produces some of the world’s greatest sweet wines. Somm Secret—Sémillon was so common in South Africa in the 1820s, covering 93% of the country’s vineyard area, it was simply referred to as Wyndruif, or “wine grape.”

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Sonoma Mountain

Sonoma Valley, California

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Defined more by altitude than geographical outline, the Sonoma Mountain appellation occupies elevations between 400 and 1,200 feet on the northern and eastern slopes of the actual Sonoma Mountain and is part of the greater Sonoma Valley appellation. The mountain reaches 2,400 feet; its hills separate the cooling winds of Petaluma Gap from the Sonoma Valley.

On a cooler western flank, Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Syrah enjoy a great deal of success. Vineyards on its warmer, eastern side, interspersed with heavily forested areas, tend to include Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and Syrah. Given its complexity of topography and mesoclimates, Sonoma Mountain excels with a wide range of grape varieties.

SPRSMSSEML16C_2016 Item# 413049