Matanzas Creek Alexander Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2018
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Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Savory and broad, this wine is bursting with vibrant and complex aromas and flavors. Kiwi and Key lime notes are strung delicately together against a background of lemon verbena and hints of citrus blossom. This wine has great tension - its elements are highly articulated, with layered acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Blended with 7% Sémillon, the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Alexander Valley opens youthfully shy to gooseberry, lychee, lime, bruised apple and candle smoke with a crushed stone streak. It's medium-bodied, rounded and with restrained fruits, finishing with bright acidity, lots of crushed rock minerality and texture. This is similar to white Bordeaux, and I'd be curious to see it with a couple of years of bottle age.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Alexander Valley (89% Sauvignon Blanc, 7% Semillon, and the balance Sauvignon Musque) offers more melon, white peach, and pineapple notes in a richer, more fleshy, textured style. It still has good acidity, terrific purity of fruit, and a deliciously balanced profile that's already a joy to drink.
Other Vintages
2016-
Wilfred
Wong
Founded in 1977, Matanzas Creek Winery is located on the site of a retired dairy farm in Sonoma County's Bennett Valley. In 1985, the original winery gave way to a modern winemaking facility -- and, since that time, the Estate's Bennett Valley vineyards have grown to include over 280-acres of Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah. Vineyard acquisitions in Sonoma Valley, Carneros, Russian River Valley and Knights Valley provide the vineyard management and winemaking teams with an enviable selection of fruit.
Although only formally recognized as an AVA in December 2003, Bennett Valley has a rich history of grape growing dating back to the mid-1800s. Once defined as part of Sonoma County's Sonoma Valley and Sonoma Mountain AVA's, Bennett Valley overlaps with these winegrowing regions but carves out 8,150 acres to call its own (of which 850 acres are planted with grapevines). Three mountains define Bennett Valley and also serve to capture a cool maritime air stream which promotes a cooler, longer growing season that results in more complex wines.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.