St. Francis Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Tasting Notes
Elegant and refreshing, this wine offers a bounty of aromatics with honeydew melon, fresh-cut apple and lime zest on the nose. Flavors of tangerine, kiwi and white peach linger and lead to a smooth finish balanced with crisp acidity and a hint of minerality.
Vintage Notes
The 2022 growing season started with early spring rains followed by ideal weather through spring and late summer. Harvest began on August 15 with white and early ripening red varieties showing bright acidity and mouth-watering freshness. In September a period of triple-digit heat over several days pushed maturity on the vines, until a few days of rain provided a refreshing break and gave the later-ripening fruit some extra hang time to develop deep rich color, remarkable aromatics and exquisite flavors.
Vineyard Notes
Sauvignon Blanc is planted in our Sonoma Valley Wild Oak Vineyard and our Russian River Valley Lagomarsino Vineyard. We also source fruit from Alexander Valley and Bennett Valley. The warmer areas produce full flavors and aromas while fruit from the cooler areas brings refreshing crispness. These characteristics are thoughtfully blended for a balanced and lively wine.
Winemaker Notes
To retain this varietal’s bright flavors and crisp acidity, the grapes were picked at dawn and arrived at the winery cold. The grapes were pressed and a majority of the juice was sent directly to stainless steel tank. The wine was fermented slowly at 55º for over 30 days, preserving the wonderful aromas of Sauvignon Blanc. We prevented malolactic fermentation to preserve the wine’s clean, crisp texture.
