2016 Sauvignon Blanc

Palate

Lush and fresh. Medium to full body, medium acid. Lots of mid-palate volume reflecting a warmer vintage.

Aromas

Grapefruit and lime zest, chalky, white flowers.

Food Pairings

Fresh fish or richer shellfish very simply prepared, goat cheese, or dishes seasoned with lots of fresh herbs.

Vineyard

All the grapes are from Hardscrabble, which is Linden’s estate vineyard. This is a young vineyard, planted in 2012. The vines are pruned ‘double Guyot’, trained on standard VSP trellising at a density of 1,658 vines per acre. Soils are mostly granite with some greenstone. Slope is gradual and south facing.

Vintage

A somewhat uneventful winter gave way to a warm, dry March that stimulated an early bud swell. Late April through most of May was very wet and cloudy. The vines did not look healthy with pale green leaves, slow shoot development and a fair amount of phomopsis scars. The wet weather pattern broke in late May and flowering was very successful under ideal conditions. The rest of June and early July was typical with occasional thunderstorms. By late July we saw browning grass and cessation of new growth, always a welcome sign. Heavy thundershowers in early August stimulated some vines in more clay-based soils, but vineyard blocks in low water holding capacity soils remained in balance. The rest of August through most of September was very dry. September was uncommonly warm, including nighttime temperatures. This resulted in fast ripening and lower acidities than normal in the young Sauvignon Blanc vineyards. Harvest was September 5 and 7, 2016.

Winemaking

The grapes were sorted and destemmed before pressing. The Sauvignon Blanc juice was fermented and aged in tank on lees. The Semillon was fermented and aged in old French oak barrels. 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Semillon. Bottled March 2017. 241 cases produced. Drink upon release through 2019. Alcohol is 13.5%

White Wines, 2016 VintageJim Law