Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, $45.99-$54.99, 91+ points, appeared opaque, but the colors were a complexity of rich black currant purple/reds with hints of maroon, a leggy glass wall, and a thin transparent rim.
More aromatic than the 2010, but certainly not overly noteworthy, with hints of black cherry, tobacco, and candied violets being lovely, yet subtle.
Medium-plus bodied with good acidity and moderately layered tannin made for a young wine ready to drink now.
More fruit-forward than the 2010, with cherry, boysenberry, black currant, cedar, and violets presented as well balanced and quite tasty.
Finished on red licorice, gentle spice notes, and a well integrated 13.5% alcohol.
This post was instigated by: Vinsanity and the history of Stag's Leap District AVA
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Angeline Russian River 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $11.99-$14.99, 88 points, appeared as a very light straw yellow to almost water clear.
The aroma was strikingly orange, but hints of grapefruit and flowers were very nice indeed.
A light-crisp body carried good acidity, wet stone notes, subtle citrus and tart almost effervescent green melon flavors.
Finished long on the trailing palate with a hint of ginger and the 13.8% alcohol.
As it has been said: "These California wines (SB) are all so good!"
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Emmolo Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $19.99-$21.99, 91 points, was a patchwork of lemon yellow and near water clear in the glass.
Possessing the fairest of Sauvignon Blanc aromas, with toasty vanilla, cantaloupe, honeysuckle, and sea breezes which made for a propitious beginning.
Light bodied, but seemingly more substantial than that would imply, with mouth-watering acidity, underlying minerality, citrus flavors of grapefruit, lime, and a touch of watermelon-rind.
Finished long on citrus with a hint of ginger, tangerine, and a well integrated 12.8% alcohol.
The Emmolo Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc was a different style of SB, but still quite robust, yet largely mineral-like and more subtle than many Cali SB wines.
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Clos de Gilroy Monterey County 2013 Grenache, Bonny Doon Vineyard (GSM), $15.29-$19.99, 88 points, poured an almost Shiraz purple/red with a maroon tint toward the clear rim at the leggy glass wall.
Smells of autumn leaves, earth, grape, and red raspberry were subtle, but good.
The very smooth medium body carried fair acidity and mild tannin.
Flavors of cola, red fruit, a floral component, and dried savory herbs were good.
Finished well with red cherry cordial, spice, a hint of bourbon, and warmth from the 14% alcohol.
Varietals were 75% Grenache, 17% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre.
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As summer speeds into autumn, and white wines will soon take a back-seat to warm red wines, the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc white wines continue to tardily complete their trek cross-country to New Hampshire.
Though my overall estimation of the 2013 vintage has changed little from my June posting (better by .5), I have so far found seven exceptional 2013 Sauvignon Blanc white wines from California:
1: Duckhorn Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $25.60-$28.99, 92+ points
2: Frog's Leap Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $17.84-$22.99, 92 points
3: Groth Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $9.00 (NHLS-promotional gift-card applied)-$24.99, 91 points
4: Merriam Vineyards Russian River Danielle's Estate 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $14.99, 93 points
5: Robert Mondavi Napa Valley 2013 (Fume Blanc), $16.99-$20.99, 91 points
6: Sterling Vineyards Napa County 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $12.99-$14.99, 90 points
7: William Hill Estate Winery North Coast 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $16.99-$18.99, 90 points
Post-post additions:
Davis Bynum Virginia's Block~Jane's Vineyard Russian River Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $20.69-$22.99, 90 points
Dry Creek Taylor's Vineyard 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Musqué Clone, $25.00, 93+ points
Emmolo Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $19.99-$21.99, 91 points
Hall Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $20.99-$24.99, 90 points
Heritance Napa Valley 2013 Sauvgnon Blanc, $8.99-$17.99, 91 points
High Valley Lake County California 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $13.99-$29.99, 90 points
Honig Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $14.99-$16.99, 92 points
Honig Napa Valley Rutherford 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve $18.99-$22.99, 91+ points
Matanzas Creek Winery Sonoma County 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $14.39-$19.99, 90 points
Merry Edwards Russian River Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $33.29-$39.99, 92 points
MSH Cellars Yountville-Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon, $11.99-$20.99, 90 points
Rochioli 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $33.14-$38.99, 90 points
Roth Alexander Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $7.99-$14.99, 91 points
Round Pond Rutherford~Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $19.79-$21.99, 93 points
Silverado Miller Ranch Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $14.39-$19.99, 91+ points
Souverain North Coast 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $9.99-$15.99, 91 points
Spottswoode 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $33.29-$36.99, 92 points
Truchard Vineyard's The Sheperd Napa Valley Carneros 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $11.99-$15.99, 90 points
Wente Vineyards Livermore Valley 2013 Louis Mel Sauvignon Blanc, $11.69-$15.99, 90+ points
I love a good cold Sauvignon Blanc by itself, but a great SB tastes great even when warm, and also develops hidden subtle flavors as it warms.
Paired with almost anything from the sea: oysters (on the half-shell with tabasco or with lemon), clams (fried or steamed), scallops (baked or sautéed), muscles, white fish cooked anyway, tuna rolls, salmon or crab cakes, lobster (steamed or baked), and even with barbecued meats, especially with foul and pork, or corn-on-the-cob, but I like SB as an accompaniment with many desserts as well.
California Sauvignon Blanc white wines are more often than not rather robust and able to complement hearty foods, but when pairing with delicate light flakey white fish, a Gavi, Prosecco, or Chablis just might be a better choice.
Exploring wines will always help you to find what is best for you, and that's what this blog is about: smell, taste, and pair wines as an experiment, soon you'll know as much as the experts! In drinking the wine is the proof ;-).
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Robert Mondavi Napa Valley 2013 (Fume Blanc), $16.99-$20.99, 91 points, is an in-your-face Sauvignon Blanc: Bright straw color, honeysuckle and cantaloupe on the nose, light-plus body with good acidity, 14.5% potent alcohol, mellow citrus flavors with lemon meringue, capped-off with loads of ginger on the finish.
Varietals were 87% Sauvignon Blanc and 13% Semillon.
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Dry Creek 2013 Sonoma Fumé Blanc, $10.99-$13.99, 88 points, appeared a light brass color and trended slightly gray toward the glass wall.
Smells of lime and hints of lemon were good.
The light acidic body was flinty and citrusy with hints of lemon, lime, and grapefruit.
Finished fair on hints of ginger, citrus, the 13.5% alcohol, and a floral note.
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