Community Tasting Notes 8

• csimm wrote:

  June 14, 2021 - More tropical and round than previous bottles, this Sauvignon Blanc has quickly progressed and is on the downslope now. This was a bottle I shoulda killed last summer. Drain ‘em if ya got ‘em.

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• msuwine wrote: 88 points

  December 8, 2020 - This soft and diffuse Sauvignon Blanc has lost a few steps in the 10 months since I tasted it last (2/20 - 92 points). Similar to csimm, I hoped this would be far better than it is, as I've loved Kaplan's Arkenstone (Howell Mountain) SB's, even with more age than this wine. Instead, this tastes too creamy and flabby to be anything other than disappointing.
  
  Light yellow in yellow; full in body; muted aromas of quince and golden delicious apple. Flavors of orange marmalade, grapefruit, and poached pear, with a round finish that is the opposite of zingy (read: very little acidity). 14.5% alcohol. I drank this on the same night as a 2018 Peter Michael L'Apres-Midi, which showed far more depth and precision. Here's hoping the MM guys figure this out in later vintages.

  Comment

• csimm wrote: 90 points

  June 1, 2020 - Drink these up now...as in, before the summer kicks into full gear (well, by COVID standards at least). This bottle was even less expressive than it was 6+ months ago. Medium-light on the attack and somewhat flat mid-palate. Finishes light and tapers off fairly quick. Flavors seem pure but overall lackluster. Better than a $10 Sancerre served next to it, but barely.
  
  I had hopes this was going to find a groove with just a little short term cellaring. It unfortunately seems to be losing steam. It is fine and all, but less representative of any sort of “special” SB that warrants the tariff. A disappointing experience really.
  
  I’ve absolutely loved what Sam Kaplan has done with Arkenstone’s SB, so I’m not sure what happened with this iteration of MM. I’m sorry to say I obviously struggled with holding interest here. Bummer. Hopefully coming vintages will show heightened improvement. Fingers crossed for MM’s pursuit of SB. 88-90 points.

  2 people found this helpful Comment

• EpochMD Likes this wine: 90 points

  May 20, 2020 - Consumed after a 2011 J. Schram during the MM *virtual* tasting...least favorite wine of the night - still have some left 3 days later and it hasn’t changed much positively or negatively. This was in comparison to a 2017 MAXEM PN, 2017 MAXEM Chardonnay, a 2016 MM cab, and a 2015 Arkenstone Estate Red and the aforementioned sparkler (Sam Kaplan fanboy night!). The Arkenstone was the favorite by far - but more on this SB; it does have some tropical notes and some acid, I had more passion fruit than anything else, but it really just sits there and doesn’t do much of anything at all, smooth but flat. Kaplan works magic with the grape at Arkenstone and I’m not sure if the MM has any semillon which is in the Arkenstone blend, but it needs more body, needs more excitement. I’m drinking this a few days out and I still have the exact same feeling...I need more out of this. I definitely consider Realms Fidelio and Arkenstones Estate SB to be in a different league compared to this.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• iamandyc Likes this wine: 93 points

  May 17, 2020 - Just a well made, balanced, tasty SB. Had the pleasure to sip this during an excellent video "tasting" with the MM folks and Sam -- nice to get to know the principals behind the brand (really witty guys). Have drank the latest Realm and Arkenstone SB's also recently. Feel like MM version is smack dab in the middle in style with Realm being most straightforward and acidic version and the Arkenstone being more influenced by oak, layered with lighter acidity. Think I like this MM best.

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Wine Definition

• Vintage 2018
• Type White
• Producer Memento Mori
• Varietal Sauvignon Blanc
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Napa Valley
• Appellation Napa Valley

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 3 (1%)
• In Cellars 80 (39%)
• Consumed 121 (59%)

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