Matanzas Creek Winery 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Naturally defined by the three mountain peaks that envelop it, Bennett Valley existed for many years in quiet obscurity – bountifully sustaining an agricultural community that had all but forgotten the valley’s pre-prohibition vinicultural roots. It wasn’t until 1977 with the founding of Matanzas Creek Winery that the area’s winemaking potential was once again unearthed. But Matanzas Creek didn’t just breathe new life into the area, it helped revolutionize the entire industry and, in the process, put Bennett Valley back on the map. And now, over thirty years after the release of its first vintage, Matanzas Creek stands at the forefront of California viticulture.…
-
-
Blindfold 2013 California White Wine Established in 2009, The Prisoner Wine Co. emerged with the change in tenure of the Napa Valley red blend and the typical California Zinfandel. With over a decade of winemaking experience at Ravenswood crafting Zinfandel, winemaker, Jen Beloz started The Prisoner Wine Company along with a family of growers and a winemaking team to grow and produce a selection of premium blends, including Cuttings, Blindfold, and Thorn. Created to provide the perfect white wine companion to The Prisoner, Blindfold is bold and intriguing. In establishing their own spin on a white blend, winemaker Jen Beloz and her team sought out interesting Rhône and aromatic varietals…
-
Quintessa Illumination 2013 Fascinated with making a white wine from Quintessa, Agustin Huneeus planted a small plot of Sauvignon Blanc at the estate in 2002. Illumination first emanuated from this little vineyard, its rays penetrating the palates of sommeliers, friends and guests who requested it for their own cellars. He now shares this limited production wine with kindred spirits seeking illumination via wines that express their place of origin. Agustin Huneeus celebrated his 80th birthday, at harvest time in 2013, with the release of the latest vintage of Illumination. I tasted Illumination at a recent wine tasting event hosted by Quintessa representatives and thought the wine was truly magnificent.…
-
Cakebread Cellars 2012 Sauvignon Blanc Cakebread Cellars was founded, in 1973, by Jack and Dolores Cakebread and they have an enduring commitment to quality, their belief is that life’s occasions are elevated by good people, good food, and good wine flows through everything they do. The 2012 Sauvignon Blanc was Cakebread’s 38th vintage from Napa Valley, and considered one of their best. The wine is a blend of Grapes: 87% Sauvignon Blanc, 9% Sèmillon, and 4% Sauvignon Musqué. In 2013, Cakebread Cellars celebrated their 40th wine harvest, and the second generation of winemaking, and in 1995, the family purchased a 60-acre former apple orchard in Anderson Valley near Boonville and…
-
Groth 2012 Napa Sauvignon Blanc In 1981, Dennis and Judy Groth purchased 121 acre parcel in Napa known as the Oakville Vineyards, in the heart of the Oakville Appellation. In fact at that time some of their grapes found their way to Silver Oak and other notable Napa wineries. Between 1999 and 2003, almost 50% of their vineyard was replanted and in 2006 they rebuilt the barrel cellars, crush and fermentation areas. The Groth 2012 Sauvignon Blanc was produced from grapes grown in various microclimates of the Napa Valley, 97% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Semillon. The warmer Napa Valley microclimates produces grapes that result in wines with a lush, full…