Rutherford Ranch Sauvignon Blanc 2017
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Can be enjoyed as a delightful apéritif or as an accompaniment to all sorts of hard cheeses, walnuts toasted with olive oil, rosemary and sea salt. Also delicious with Dover Sole with a light cream sauce or your favorite sushi.
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This white is beautifully lush and delicious—a light bright explosion of fresh peach and grapefruit dipped in Tahitian vanilla.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: While most folks think of Cabernet Sauvignon when the Napa Valley is mentioned, but alongside the major grape variety is Sauvignon Blanc. Just as in Bordeaux, Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc can be a rather substantial wine. The 2017 Rutherford Ranch delivers excellence when it comes to this grape variety. TASTING NOTES. This wine is fresh and frisky. Its aromas and flavors of ripe melon and bright citrus should pair it superbly with longneck clam sashimi. (Tasted: November 8, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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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.