Nose

Aromas are led by Sicilian lemon peel, chamomile, and chervil complemented by honey and crushed limestone. A nose of tropical fruit, this is an unmistakably Californian wine, with deep minerality, savoriness, lemon blossom, and beeswax that make it a clear homage to great white Bordeaux.

Palate

Ashes & Diamonds' Blanc is a fully ripe and textured, yet bright, zesty and supremely age-worthy blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Racy, tasting of candied lemon and exotic feijoas, with lasting freshness and complexity. The mouthfeel is crisp, with mineral-rich flavors plus citrus and fresh herbs. Bright acidity drives the long finish.

Growing Conditions

From two carefully-chosen vineyards in Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll District and Yountville. Ashes & Diamonds’ 2017 Blanc is a singular wine in many respects. It’s the only white wine produced in our portfolio, but what truly makes this wine is its focus on age. The age of a nearly century-old Sémillon vineyard (Yount Mill) in Yountville for depth and complexity, framed by a bright, zesty Sauvignon Blanc from Ryan’s Vineyard in Oak Knoll.

Winemaking

What can I say about the 2017 vintage. Its dawn marked by promise and its dusk with hellfire. Hello Climate Change, Napa Valley. All is not lost. Before the crazy heat spikes and 50 mile per hour winds that caused the fires in mid-October of that year, our white and red fruit was already either in tank or barrel. The house style is to work with older vines, abstain from irrigation as much as possible, give the dirt the nutrients it needs so you don’t have to do it in production, pick earlier, don’t water back. To that end, we made some of our finest wine in 2017 and Blanc was no exception to that notion.

Did I mention Steve Matthiasson? The vine whisperer? Steve’s a clairvoyant when it rings harvest. His maneuverability/adaptability when nature calls makes him one of the finest winemakers in the game.

Appearance

Expressive and attractive with a luminous platinum-green core.