Vaughn Duffy Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2018
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Suckling
James
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James Suckling
Very fresh, attractive aromas of ripe apples, Asian pears and lemons follow through to a chalky, crisp palate. Fresh and crisp, dry-white style here. Drink now.
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Wine &
Suddenly it was 2007 and we were engaged and driving a U-Haul to start a new life in Sonoma County. After an internship at Siduri, Matt began working at Vinify, a custom crush winery full of people who were living their winemaking dreams. It was an ambitious, contagious environment. The bug bit hard, and it was not long before we purchased our first ton of grapes.
Vaughn Duffy is now part of the boom of first-generation winemaking families in California. We feel lucky to be living in a time when hard work, creativity and a little help from your friends can trump the need for huge amounts of capital investment. Two kids who didn’t really know any better can now get their wine on the shelf next to the icons who inspired them to make wine in the first place. We invite you to be a part of the journey ahead.
All the best,
Matt Duffy & Sara Vaughn
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.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.