Grapes: 54% Semillon, 46% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Dollarhide Estate Vineyard, Napa Valley.
Winemaker’s Notes: Brilliant pale yellow hues present this white blend. Aromas offer notes of pink grapefruit, lemon butter, and kiwi with an undercurrent of seductive toasted French oak. Flavors of kumquat, lemongrass, grapefruit zest, and dried peaches are focused and encouraged with the hint of creamy, toasted oak. This is a terrific wine with great texture.
Vintage: The 2018 growing season started with a relatively mild winter and spring. We had decent rain in early and mid-January, almost none in February, and more rain in March and April which filled our lakes and kicked off the growing season. After a warm July, August saw markedly cooler temperatures absent of heat spikes, followed by ideal weather in September and October. Harvest continued through November because of the ideal weather enabling the fruit to stay on the vine with no pressure from Mother Nature.
The sémillon and sauvignon blanc grapes were harvested in the cool morning hours to preserve their delicate flavors. The fruit was received in the cellar, pressed to tank and immediately chilled and settled prior to fermentation. The fermentation was completed with part in tank and part in the barrel at cool temperatures to maintain and enhance the natural flavors. The final blend was completed after 5 months of maturation on yeast lees.
Analysis: Alcohol 13.5%, pH 3.15, acidity 6.0 g/L.
