Sauvignon Blanc 'L'Apres Midi'

Vintage Notes

While the winter of 2019 was wet with generous amounts of rainfall, the rocky, volcanic soil, and subsoils of our estates were able to drain efficiently, releasing the excessive moisture content in the soil. From the physiological steps of bud break to veraison, the temperatures were variable with some lows and highs. The subsequent long and quite mild summer was ideal to preserve freshness and finesse. The yields were average, but picking decisions and proper sorting were critical to achieving wines of balance, ripeness, generosity, and elegance.

Winegrowing Notes

The name translates to ‘The Afternoon’. The fruit for L’Après-Midi is grown alongside our red varietals in the Les Pavots vineyard. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lies for 9 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the final cuvée.

Winemaker’s Tasting Notes

Visually compelling with a translucent, silver color accented by a bright, pale golden hue. The bouquet is reminiscent of neroli, expressing vine and orange blossom along with a vibrant oyster shell and granitic minerality heightened by fresh lime and lemon fruit, and gooseberry with a hint of pine needle and verbena. The flavors are introduced with a touch of freshness and glycerol, carrying elegant white spring flowers – jasmine and white vine rose with a resounding array of fruit, Vosges lemon candy, gooseberry, grapefruit to mandarin petite grain, bitter orange and Muscat and guava. The finish is balanced, precise, mineral-driven, and elegant, revealing white currant, apricot, acacia honey, and quince paste. The 2019 L’ Après-Midi will benefit from several years of cellaring to develop further complexity and express the originality of the vintage.

Wine Information

• Appellation: Knights Valley , Sonoma County
• Harvested: September 4 – 28, 2019
• Blend: 90% Sauvignon Blanc & 10% Sémillon
• 100% naturally fermented using native yeasts
• 100% barrel fermented in French oak from select artisan coopers
• Barrel-aged sur lies 8 months with gentle biweekly bâtonnage
• Bottled: May 11, 2020
• Alcohol: 14.8%
• Release Date: September 1, 2020