Palate
This wine delivers a seamless combination of enticing aromatics, mouthfilling
richness with lovely minerality, all with enough enlivening acidity to add focus and definition to the
alluring fruit. The sémillon provides eloquent florals and textural richness, along with flavors of
golden fig, while the sauvignon and muscadelle contribute layers of rose, jasmine, pink grapefruit
and lime spice. Firm acids add an almost architectural undercurrent to the creamy texture, keeping
this wine delightfully fresh and bright.
Growing Conditions
2014 delivered abundant spring heat, leading to early budbreak and flowering.
To address the heat, which continued through summer, we tailored our irrigation, crop size and
shading to the needs of each vineyard. In the run up to harvest, Mother Nature delivered ideal
temperate weather, which allowed us to pick exactly when we wished.
Harvest
One of our earliest harvests
ever, we harvested our Lonesome Spring sauvignon blanc on September 8th at 22.0 ̊ Brix, with the
site’s muscadelle coming in on September 20th at 23.3 ̊ Brix. Our old-vine sémillon from Rosebud
Ranch was picked on September 3rd at 23.5 ̊, while our sémillon from the cooler Boushey
Vineyard was the last fruit picked on September 27th at 22.5 Brix.
Winemaking
Each small harvest was sorted by hand at the winery after hand picking and
vineyard sorting. To preserve acidity, fresh fruit and floral purity in the warmer 2014 vintage, 95%
of the grapes were whole-cluster pressed. To further preserve acidity and varietal
character, only 60% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation, and the wine was not cold
stabilized. As a result, if stored exceedingly cold, it may shed natural tartaric crystals.
Aging
Fermentations were done in both Nomblot concrete
tanks and old Bordeaux barrels, with aging on lees to enhance texture and aroma. The wine was
blended in the early summer from our best barrels and tank wine, and represents 45% barrel aging
and 55% concrete, with a very modest 3% new oak.