Notes from the Archivist

"Felicity"

Felicity has arrived just in time to elevate your Summer sipping game!

Meaning “intense happiness” or “bliss” or “pleasure”, this is Sauv Blanc done in the White Bordeaux style and it has the power to elevate and energize with every sip. Once again we turn to the jedi-master at his craft, Brian Graham, who studied at top Bordeaux houses and then Harlan before going off on his own as a consulting winemaker in Napa. And while we couldn’t reveal the source on the label, I’m sure you can venture a guess if you do a little studying. The source makes just a few hundred cases each year and peeled off a small portion for us.

This is the counterpoint to our previous “Rough Diamond” Savvy Blanc and it brings to the table a stylish, haut couture swankiness that rivals first-growth Bordeaux Blanc. Complete with all of its juicy, bright fruit and loads of creamy new French oak goodness mixed up into some wildly delicious golden nectar.

Coming from Judge Family Vineyard, like our last release “21 Grams” Rhone Blend, this site is ideal for balancing richness and acidity. If you’re hip to Bordeaux Blanc, you have an idea of the style. By combining Sauv Blanc with Semillon and fermenting it in a healthy dose of French oak you get a live wire of nervy acidity balanced by creamy richness and weight to hold it all together.  The melange saunters into a beautiful finish that lingers in the back of your throat like a chilled blanket of Italian lemon ice nostalgia.

Sometimes I have a hard time with Bordeaux Blanc – it can be a little overtly baked or missing that up front fruit. But not here. This one dials it in beautifully and showcases as a stunning example. Brian’s deft touch and collaborating with Bobby on the final minutia, it has the richness and complexity of a big California Chardonnay with the flavors and acidity of a fine Sauvignon Blanc. So, if you are one of those Savvy customers who want something dead sexy and impress your friends with a more rare style of wine, this is a show stopper. Bobby’s wife has already enjoyed several bottles of the two cases she requested for herself…

92 points – Decanter

“This Sauvignon Blanc was aged in 75% new French oak with a touch of Sémillon folded in, and the result is a toasty-scented white wine with a creamy mid-palate and loads of slivered almonds, vanilla, and warm baking spices, underscored by crisp, crunchy acidity and finishing with toasted marshmallow and wet river stone complexity.”