Nose
The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc has aromatics of zesty lime, green apple, passion fruit, and peach blossom.
Palate
The magnificent fruit aromatics are followed by a long finish of pineapple, grapefruit, and crisp acidity.
Growing Conditions
The 2018 growing season was on the cool side overall. The near picture-perfect growing season began in late February. Spring was mild, with extended flowering yielding uniform grape clusters. Temperatures remained steady and warm throughout the growing season, without any significant heat spikes. A slow and steady harvest.
The Rawls vineyard is located in the northern portion of the Napa Valley, within the Calistoga sub-appellation. The vineyard is distinguished by its volcanic soil, high temperatures (up to 100 degrees F. during the day), and cool nights during the growing season. This wide diurnal swing from hot days to cool nights provides perfect conditions for growing very expressive Sauvignon Blanc fruit. This vineyard has proven itself over the years to produce wines with structure, complexity, and bold flavors.
Harvest
Across the Napa Valley yields were up by two percent compared to 2017. This bountiful harvest gave us the opportunity to select only the finest grapes from the crop.
August 17, 2018
Bottling
March 6, 2019
Winemaking
Half of our Sauvignon Blanc grapes went directly to press and the other half spent 24 hours on the skins to increase varietal aromas and mouthfeel. We then combined the two lots in tank for a long, cool fermentation. No malolactic fermentation took place. Prior to bottling, we blended in 10 percent barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc to add texture and complexity on the palate.
Total Acid: 7.2
