Its green herbal qualities make Sauvignon Blanc the quintessential springtime wine.
Just as a refreshing Rosé heralds the arrival of summer and lazy days spent by the pool, Sauvignon Blanc evokes a springtime vibe. Its piquant, herbaceous quality makes it the ideal accompaniment to spring’s emergent flora. The season is a celebration of eternal optimism and Sauvignon Blanc is a lovely expression of that sense of hope and positivity. Try one of these delicious selections, and savor the essence of the season.
CADE’S 2020 Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from several Napa Valley sub appellations; the warmer sites of Pope Valley and Howell Mountain convey stone and tropical fruit flavors, while Oakville and Oak Knoll bring notes of grapefruit, bright citrus, and green apple. St. Helena and Rutherford fruit add peach, honey crisp apple and lemon meringue aromas and flavors to round out the final blend. Barrel fermentations add texture, density, and viscosity while stainless-steel fermentations preserve the natural aromatics, acidity and crispness of the wine. A round and creamy palate is balanced by a touch of minerality, and it finishes with a bright, tangy, citrus acidity.
The Arkenstone Estate Blanc, originally planted in 1997, is grown in very steep, rocky vineyard blocks on the Howell Mountain Estate. The well-draining, white volcanic soils yield a concentrated but balanced Sauvignon Blanc. A small estate block of Semillon is also farmed for this wine, adding beautiful floral aromatics along with a rounder mid-palate that seamlessly complements the wine’s innate melon, citrus, and mineral character. 418 cases are produced.
Produced since 1984, Spottswoode’s exceptional, classically styled Sauvignon Blanc is considered one of the “Super Sauvignons,” a term coined by wine writer Karen MacNeil to describe a rarer class of wines considered to be among the world’s utmost expressions of this noble grape. Other noted wine reviewers have claimed that “Spottswoode has turned Sauvignon Blanc into an art form.” Crafted with grapes from Spottswoode Estate, as well as those from other iconic family-owned vineyards, this wine is eminently drinkable yet cellar-worthy. Energetic and sublime, fresh and well-integrated, with extraordinary aromas, effortless poise, and remarkable complexity, the palate features white peach intermingled with subtle oak and creamy meringue mid-palate.
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Previous vintages of this wine have been greatly favored by critics, and the 2021 is no exception. The micro-lot wine is named after the cigar-shaped oak barrels in which it ferments and ages. The larger size and unique shape of these barrels enhance the wine’s contact with its lees, producing a voluminous section balanced by bright and tropical aromatics. This wine showcases lovely notes of Asian pear, baking spice, lemongrass, satsuma and a hint of hazelnut. A 50/50 blend of Sauvignon Musqué and a new selection from Sancerre, Clone 242, make the palate dense and lush.
Another wine considered by Karen MacNeil to be one of the “Super Sauvignons,” Turnbull Josephine is aromatic and refreshing. The 2022 shows delicate aromas of white stone fruit blossoms, passion fruit, and a hint of wet flint. On the palate, it displays a soft entry, with crisp acidity that adds structure and lift. Flavors of fresh white peach are coupled with lemon zest.
This pillar for Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc expresses tropical components of passionfruit, honeydew, and grapefruit due to the ample sunlight hours present at Ink Grade’s Howell Mountain AVA vineyard. Sourced from vines planted in 1996 in volcanic “tufa” soil, the nose expresses aromatic white flowers, notes of flint, and citrus curd. The medium-bodied palate carries the integration of oak with grace and sophistication, supported by a racy backbone and subtly creamy texture. “The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc is a wine of extraordinary precision and nuance,” says Ink Grade managing partner and Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy Jr. “A beautiful balance between opulence and tension, the finish is long and mineral laced.”
Vibrant with an enticing medley of tropical and citrus aromas, this perpetual favorite is composed of 90.5% Sauvignon Blanc and 9.5% Sémillon. This wine offers an enticing medley of tropical and citrus aromas, including pineapple, lemon verbena, lime and guava. The palate is lush and lively, combining a silky texture and energetic acidity with fresh melon, citrus, and pineapple flavors framed by subtle minerality throughout a long, bright finish.
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Sourced primarily from the winery’s St Helena estate, this wine’s grapes are hand-picked in the cool of night. Elegantly balanced, the light to medium-bodied wine displays vibrant notes of white floral, lemon and orange blossoms, honeydew, pink guava and lemon verbena on the nose. Flavors of guava, passion fruit, sugar pea, lime and lemon with sweet tart acidity and a crisp finish. The wine was cold fermented slowly in stainless steel tanks to further its wonderfully aromatic bouquet and delicate flavor profile.
A synonym for Sauvignon Blanc, the term Fumé Blanc was popularized by this particular wine, long a Robert Mondavi Winery favorite. A true reflection of place, the grapes for this wine were grown in Western Oakville, at the foot of the Mayacamas mountain range, primarily from the winery’s famed To Kalon Vineyard. Juicy on entry with a layered, textured, and weighty palate, this 90% Sauvignon Blanc 10% Sémillon wine features flavors of white peach, lime zest, pastry cream, and a touch of nuttiness.
Louis Mel Sauvignon Blanc displays a youthful exuberance that gives this vintage a lot of appeal. It is as lively as it is polished with varietally-typical aromas of fresh honeydew melon, minerals, citrus and a hint of grass. Modestly weighted and nicely composed, the wine displays a rich and rounded elegance that highlights its juicy, fruit-driven flavors of sweet Meyer lemon and candied citrus. This wine finishes with well-placed acidity and a lengthy finish.
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