RouteStock Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2021
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Sinking your nose in the glass you are rewarded with amazingly vibrant aromas of fresh herbs (oregano and thyme) as well as figs, grapefruit, and apricot. The flavors closely follow the nose. There is a great combination of vibrant acidity and lift with a nice richness that you can’t get from Sauvignon Blanc that ages in stainless steel exclusively. This is not a shy demure wine, it is exuberant, fun-loving and not lacking in strength nor personality. The lingering fresh flavors of fig and oregano last and last creating a savory character that brings you back for another sip, another glass, and another bottle!
Blend: 98% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Semillon
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A subtle, slightly creamy perfume of white flowers translates with poise to the palate. Asian pear and light lemon sorbet punctuate a thread of minerality and bright acidity
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2020-
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RouteStock is an invitation to discover the deep roots of winemaking in Napa and Sonoma, planted firmly at each step of your journey through our vineyard sites. Every glass tells the story of Napa’s remarkable fine wine heritage, from the famous routes that wind between the vineyards, to the roots that produce its world-renowned grapes. An endeavor of enduring Napa-based importer Wilson Daniels, RouteStock is established as a product that consistently over-delivers in quality at a very attractive price point.
At the core of RouteStock is their commitment to sourcing great fruit from high-end vineyards along well-known routes in the Napa Valley. They partner with a select group of dedicated grape-growers in the best viticultural areas for each of the varietals: Napa Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, Carneros for Chardonnay, and the Sonoma Coast for Pinot Noir. Like every aspect of RouteStock, these appellations were individually selected with care to put each varietal at the greatest advantage and make the best possible wines while also showcasing their uniqueness.
Work is done hand-in-hand with all of the growers during cultivation season. The winery practices minimal intervention in their winemaking to help the grapes show their true character, using native yeasts, natural malolactic fermentation, 100% barrel aging, and no chemical additions. The intent is to let the grapes and vintage tell us what kind of wine they should be – never try to force the wine into a specific mold, but rather serve as a guide on its journey. Winemaker, Vance Rose, an industry veteran for nearly 40 years, provides s competitive advantage in the vineyard sourcing through the strong relationships he forged during his path to RouteStock Winemaker.
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.
One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.
The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. White wines from Napa Valley are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that claim specific wine characteristics based on situation, slope and soil. Farthest south and coolest from the influence of the San Pablo Bay is Carneros, followed by Coombsville to its northeast and then Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Above those are the warm St. Helena and the valley's newest and hottest AVA, Calistoga. These areas follow the valley floor and are known generally for creating rich, dense, complex and smooth red wines with good aging potential. The mountain sub appellations, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs, include Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley (farther east), Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain District and Diamond Mountain District. Napa Valley wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from a lot of time in the bottle to evolve and soften.