Most wine lovers know that the word Sauvignon comes from the French word sauvage and the word blanc simply means white, but most people don’t know the reason is because when untrained vines of the variety have a distinctly unkempt appearance. Most wine experts originally thought that the grape was first discovered in Bordeaux and migrated to the Loire Valley, but the reverse has been found to be true. Interestingly, it is one of the parents of the widely loved red grape Cabernet Sauvignon, with the other half of that variety’s DNA contributed by Cabernet Franc.
Sauvignon Blanc is widely grown throughout France, but it has found its spiritual home in New Zealand, where winemakers generally make cheap and cheery versions sporting aromas and flavors of cut grass, green herbs, green apple, melon, and even a bit of what we politely refer to as pee pee du chat, or cat pee.
We are thankful that French winemakers tend to lean into the more elegant, sophisticated aromatic profile of grapefruit, lemon line, passion fruit, freshly baked bread, peach, and vanilla when making wine from Sauvignon Blanc. We’re even happier to report that given the soil types, climate, and artistic style of most California winemakers, that they tend to veer towards the French style rather than New Zealand. While Napa Valley is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon wines, if you like a sophisticated white, we suggest you give Napa Sauvignon Blanc a try. You won’t be disappointed.
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Lail 2021 Georgia Sauvignon Blanc Yountville Napa Valley California
Owner Robin Daniel Lail can trace her family winemaking history back to her great-granduncle Captain Gustav Niebaum of Inglenook fame. Her father, John Daniel Jr., was the owner of Inglenook from 1936 until it was sold in 1964, and Robin is now following the family tradition creating quality wines from grapes grown in Napa Valley. Fruit for her Georgia Sauvignon Blanc is grown in Yountville. Lail 2021 Georgia Sauvignon Blanc captivates you from the moment you pour it into the glass. It is golden straw colored with aromas of Granny Smith apple, lemongrass, and mandarin pith that seamlessly transition on your palate to flavors of crisp ripe apple, red grapefruit zest, and a touch of wet river rock in the finish.
Buy Now: $180
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Accendo Cellars 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley California
The Arujo family chose the name Accendo from the Latin verb and poetically translated it to “illuminate, inspire, and arouse.” With this mantra the family hopes to illuminate their sustainably farmed vineyards, to inspire by producing classically styled wines, and to arouse by continuing the conversation about what makes a wine great. We recently did a 10-year vertical of their classically styled Sauvignon Blancs and can confirm that they are achieving their goals. While we found all 10 wines to be excellent, the 2022 is exceptionally fresh with an enticing bouquet of lemon curd, freshly ground pepper, and freesia that translate to flavors of peach, green apple, and dried sage on the palate with a pleasant yet bracing saline finish.
Buy Now: $90
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Ink Grade 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley California
The wine bottle is graced by a beautiful label depicting a nasturtium flower painted in 1885 by artist Ellen T. Fisher and it offers just a clue to the artistry inside the bottle. After fermentation and racking, the winemaking team at Ink Grade chose to leave their Sauvignon Blanc on the lees in a combination of stainless steel, large oak casks, and concrete to accentuate the saline quality of this wine. They feel this treatment helps to build flavors and structure for extended ageing. Their 2022 is delightful with a nose of lemongrass, lemon zest, honeydew melon, and a touch of saline. It has medium body on the palate with flavors of kiwi, yellow peach, and wet river rocks.
Buy Now: $75
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Animo by Michael Mondavi 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley California
Michael Mondavi has been making excellent wines in Napa for generations and today with his son and head winemaker, Rob Mondavi, Jr. they craft not only stunning reds, but amazing whites as well. We’re big fans of both Michael and Rob and their wines and this delightful Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent example of what they can (and do) achieve. It’s gold colored in the glass with a bouquet of vanilla, freesia, jasmine, freshly baked brioche, lemon grass, and marzipan. Well-structured minerality acts as a backbone for flavors of mandarin, pink grapefruit, and lemon custard with a touch of kiwi in the finish.
Buy Now: $67
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Eisele Vineyards 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley California
The winemaking team at Eisele Vineyards farms organically and biodynamically and produces highly sought after wines. They remember the 2022 growing season with great clarity and recall the winter as having extremely low rainfall compared to previous years. The onset of budbreak occurred earlier than normal and the month of July was quite hot, but August was milder and without temperature spikes. Harvest occurred between August 15 and 30, and after fermentation the wines were aged on the lees for one year in a combination of new oak, used oak, concrete eggs, and stainless-steel eggs. After blending and bottling the finished wine has enticing aromas of cardamom, citrus blossom, and honeysuckle. It is creamy with flavors of peach, lemon curd, and just a touch of finely ground white pepper in the finish.
Buy Now: $135
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Rudd 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Mt. Veeder Napa Valley California
Leslie Rudd started in the food and beverage industry in Wichita, Kansas. He subsequently grew his father’s alcoholic beverage distribution business to the largest in the state and later opened restaurants, specialty food stores, and eventually a winery in Napa Valley with his wife Susan. Before he passed away in 2018, he entrusted his legacy to his daughter Samantha who continues to lead a team of excellent winemakers. We have visited the estate a few times and find it to have one of Napa Valley’s most beautiful secret gardens. Rudd 2022 Mt. Veeder Sauvignon Blanc has a nose of orange blossom, yellow peach, and dried Mediterranean herbs. It is full bodied and rich in the mouth with flavors of honeydew, mandarin zest, and just a touch of fennel pollen in the finish.
Buy Now: $155
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Eleven Eleven 2022 Beckstoffer Melrose Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford Napa Valley California
Two friends from Southern California, Ellie Anest and Carol Vassilliadis, fell in love with Napa Valley and decided to purchase a home with a small vineyard in Oak Knoll and hired consulting winemaker Kirk Venge. They purchased a second 16-acre property in the same AVA and eventually a third property close to the city limits of Napa. The current home of Eleven Eleven houses the production facility, tasting room, and an event space surrounded by vines. Eleven Eleven 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is made from grapes sourced from the Melrose Vineyard in the Rutherford AVA and has aromas of tropical fruits, lemon zest, and white peach that morph to flavors of pineapple, mango, pink peppercorn, and lemon pith on the palate.
Buy Now: $80
