*** San Francisco Chronicle Gold Award ***  This year’s delicious estate SB has vibrant straw coloring with a tinge of green and aromatic elements of grapefruit, tangelo, flower, mint, basil and pear with a mineral note.  Flavors are of kiwi, and lime zest, with an explosive mid palate of lemon, peach, honey and grass, and a clean, bright finish.  26,000 cases produced.

Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Age of Vines: Up to 16 years
Alcohol: 13.8%
TA: 0.65 g/100 mL
Residual Sugar: 0.28%
Harvest Dates: September 2 to 30, 2009
Cases Produced: 27,500

Voted “Best Sauvignon Blanc” by the North Bay Bohemian

***Gold Winner - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2012***

Our estate Sauvignon Blanc is made from our Russian River Valley vineyards. The proportion from each vineyard in 2009 is as follows: Slusser 39%, Brooks 14%, Ricioli 11%, Gann Family and Mirabel each 7.5%, Chalk Ridge and Crinella each 7%, Silk and Jensen Lane each 3.5%.

A mild, dry spring, with far fewer frost nights than 2008, turned wet in late May. This moisture, along with mild summer temperatures and ample early-summer fog, created some botrytis pressure, but also was superb for flavor development. A September lightning storm provided a scare, but mild weather continued until the end of the month, when a fall heat wave ripened the last of the Sauvignon Blanc. Overall the season was cooler than 2008, with 2550 degree days tallied at our Slusser Road Vineyard.

We grow and vinify our Sauvignon Blanc to be fresh, vibrant, and evocative of the grapes themselves. We have chosen a tin-lined screwcap closure that is unsurpassed in its ability to retain our wine's exuberance. Please note that proper conservation requires cool, even temperatures and the absence of light.

• Fig and Feta Salad
• Spring Fava, Nantes Carrot and New Potato Salad
• Grilled Eggplant Salad
• Strawberry Rhubarb Crostata