I admittedly do not drink very much Sauvignon Blanc....but this wine was incredible! These are supposedly the oldest Sauv Blanc vines in North America (planted in 1945) and it definitely shows. A beautiful acid filled mix of lemons/ citrus, the tiniest bit of grass, and a tough of honey on the long, dry, acid-filled finish. The fruit is completely integrated but retains incredibly fresh and is truly exciting to drink. The To Kalon fruit shines bright here for sure. Killer wine and probably my #1 white of the year.
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How is this holding up after 12 years? Yes. Walks such a perfect line between the grassy/herbaceous and tropical styles of SB with the depth of flavor to more than encompass both. A singular wine. Could not come from soil outside California yet so deep and laden with gravitas in a way that’s distinctly old world… great to visit this old friend.
Took this to Blue Point Grill, bottles in my cellar from release. Good chance to see if it went the distance, last tasted 6 yrs ago. Chilled, PnP.
Medium straw/gold color. Nose showing perfume, citrus, mineral. Palate of citrus, lime, crushed rock. Oak is integrated and faint. Medium body and finish.
Mostly as a I remember it. The wine is more rounded than it was in its youth, less of the crisp citrus notes. The lemon/lime notes linger through the mid palate. Had this with grilled shrimp and grilled calamari - wine shows very well with fish and shellfish. An interesting wine to be sure...notable that Mondavi produces a Fume Blanc with fruit from To Kalon, source of some of the most expensive Cabernet in the country. Still drinking well, will drink remaining bottles in the next few years
PS - saved a splash for Day 2. Still great, nose evolved a bit. Picked up some of the "cheese" aroma noted by SDR in the note from 2017...
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Interesting wine, arguably the finest and most difficult to locate California Sauvignon Blanc. There's distinctly SB notes of yeast and lemon on a medium bodied framework. Acidity is slightly low. After a couple hours of air, an unusual definite funky cheesy aroma evolved which added considerable interest.
A 50th to Remember (If Only My Memory Hadn't Faded in the End), aka "How I Met Your Maya" (Napa Valley, CA): A beautiful accompaniment to the lobster salad with beets and a lemon caviar dressing, this beauty wowed with its balance and finesse. Complex citrus flavors, notably lime and verbena, Crisp minerality, but lush as well, especially in its finish, due I suspect to the well-integrated oak. Second only to the Lail Georgia to my when when it comes to Napa SB's.
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Dinner at Chez Walker with Debbie/Doug/Rebecca/Kevin: Dinner party at our place with Debbie/Doug/Rebecca/Kevin...consistent with prior notes, really unique wine. Growing Fume Blanc in the middle of some of the most expensive Cabernet vineyards in the US takes some conviction its going to be good...
Served this with a salmon appetizer, cheeses and fresh pesto. Would pair great with shellfish. Nice, crisp starter wine for what turned out to be a big night!
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This is really unique stuff, Fume Blanc grown in one of the most famous Cabernet Vineyards in the world. I had it when visiting the vineyard, which I think is the only place you can buy it.
Served next to a white Burgundy with a first course (Mango/Lobster cocktail). Both were excellent, this one really wowed the crowd. Served the wine nicely chilled - citrus flavors, you pick up some lime and pineapple along with crushed rock, very crisp minerality.
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12/25/2022 - RichEB1 Likes this wine: 96 Points
I admittedly do not drink very much Sauvignon Blanc....but this wine was incredible! These are supposedly the oldest Sauv Blanc vines in North America (planted in 1945) and it definitely shows. A beautiful acid filled mix of lemons/ citrus, the tiniest bit of grass, and a tough of honey on the long, dry, acid-filled finish. The fruit is completely integrated but retains incredibly fresh and is truly exciting to drink. The To Kalon fruit shines bright here for sure. Killer wine and probably my #1 white of the year.
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10/24/2021 - Jahull03 wrote:
How is this holding up after 12 years? Yes. Walks such a perfect line between the grassy/herbaceous and tropical styles of SB with the depth of flavor to more than encompass both. A singular wine. Could not come from soil outside California yet so deep and laden with gravitas in a way that’s distinctly old world… great to visit this old friend.
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8/1/2020 - walkerjfw wrote: 92 Points
Took this to Blue Point Grill, bottles in my cellar from release. Good chance to see if it went the distance, last tasted 6 yrs ago. Chilled, PnP.
Medium straw/gold color. Nose showing perfume, citrus, mineral. Palate of citrus, lime, crushed rock. Oak is integrated and faint. Medium body and finish.
Mostly as a I remember it. The wine is more rounded than it was in its youth, less of the crisp citrus notes. The lemon/lime notes linger through the mid palate. Had this with grilled shrimp and grilled calamari - wine shows very well with fish and shellfish. An interesting wine to be sure...notable that Mondavi produces a Fume Blanc with fruit from To Kalon, source of some of the most expensive Cabernet in the country. Still drinking well, will drink remaining bottles in the next few years
PS - saved a splash for Day 2. Still great, nose evolved a bit. Picked up some of the "cheese" aroma noted by SDR in the note from 2017...
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6/24/2017 - sdr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Interesting wine, arguably the finest and most difficult to locate California Sauvignon Blanc. There's distinctly SB notes of yeast and lemon on a medium bodied framework. Acidity is slightly low. After a couple hours of air, an unusual definite funky cheesy aroma evolved which added considerable interest.
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11/27/2014 - walkerjfw wrote: 93 Points
On Thanksgiving with Joeron and Isobel...brought this to accommodate the non-Chardonnay palates at their household
As I remember it, crisp citrus, lime zest, crushed rock, floral notes. Well integrated and unique wine.
Drank this on its own as an apertif with some cheeses. I remember it better with food...
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9/1/2014 - stlbites wrote: 92 Points
Damn
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3/22/2014 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 93 Points
A 50th to Remember (If Only My Memory Hadn't Faded in the End), aka "How I Met Your Maya" (Napa Valley, CA): A beautiful accompaniment to the lobster salad with beets and a lemon caviar dressing, this beauty wowed with its balance and finesse. Complex citrus flavors, notably lime and verbena, Crisp minerality, but lush as well, especially in its finish, due I suspect to the well-integrated oak. Second only to the Lail Georgia to my when when it comes to Napa SB's.
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4/5/2013 - walkerjfw wrote: 93 Points
Dinner at Chez Walker with Debbie/Doug/Rebecca/Kevin: Dinner party at our place with Debbie/Doug/Rebecca/Kevin...consistent with prior notes, really unique wine. Growing Fume Blanc in the middle of some of the most expensive Cabernet vineyards in the US takes some conviction its going to be good...
Served this with a salmon appetizer, cheeses and fresh pesto. Would pair great with shellfish. Nice, crisp starter wine for what turned out to be a big night!
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4/22/2012 - walkerjfw wrote: 95 Points
This is really unique stuff, Fume Blanc grown in one of the most famous Cabernet Vineyards in the world. I had it when visiting the vineyard, which I think is the only place you can buy it.
Served next to a white Burgundy with a first course (Mango/Lobster cocktail). Both were excellent, this one really wowed the crowd. Served the wine nicely chilled - citrus flavors, you pick up some lime and pineapple along with crushed rock, very crisp minerality.
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