Nose
Intense and multi-layered, the bouquet is dominated by mineral, vine blossom, yellow nettle blossom, honeysuckle, white vine rose, hawthorn, lemon, lime, white peach, completed by acacia honey and candied anise.
Palate
Rich, balanced, and elegant, the zesty flavors are reminiscent of the aromas with additional guava, Williams pear, Mirabelle plum and fresh almond notes. The strong mineral background, a stamp from our terroir, balances the overall richness and gives superb refinement. The finish is layered, extremely long and elegant.
Growing Conditions
Elevation: 1,000 – 1,200 feet
Soil: Volcanic-origin, Rhyolite
Exposure: South - southwest
Harvest
The near perfect 2016 growing season started early with a warm, dry spring. While California’s drought continued, rains were sufficient to meet the vineyard’s needs. Ideal conditions in May produced even blooming and an excellent fruit set. A green harvest brought the crop load to optimal balance. Overall, the vintage was slightly cooler than average, with consistently warm and sunny conditions and only one heat spike. A long Indian summer gave us excellent ripening and flavor development in all varietals. Moderate temperatures at harvest allowed gradual picking as each block achieved perfection, yielding a bountiful crop of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, and wines of uncommon depth and concentration.
Bottling
Bottled: May 15, 2017
Winemaking
The grapes are sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. 100% barrel fermented in French oak from select artisan coopers.
Aging
All lots were aged separately on their lies for 8 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the final cuvée.
