Upon meeting me, you realize rather quickly that I’m “vertically challenged”: I’m 5 feet when standing straight. Since I was small I’ve been called everything from munchkin to shortstack. I was always the one in the front row, the cheerleader on top of the pyramid, and the girl the shorter boys wanted to date. Of course, those who know me well think nothing of my height…or at least they don’t remind me. So where am I going with this? I’m NOT vertically challenged when sampling three beautiful Sauvignon Blanc wines from one of my favorite wineries, Cornerstone Cellars. The vertical tasting I’m referring to is of wine from the same vineyard, Talcott Vineyard in St. Helena, but different vintages, 2009, 2010, and 2011. And what I love about vertical tastings (and you may, too) is learning about why there may be a variety of aromas and tastes in each wine.
Sauvignon Blanc is my go-to wine for any occasion. It clearly expresses its terroir with a range of styles unmatched by many other grapes. From New Zealand to Sancerre to Graves to Napa, each wine displays unique characteristics. Craig Camp, Managing Partner at Cornerstone Cellars remarks that “the generous, warm climate of the Napa Valley is custom made to create Sauvignon Blanc of richness, depth and complexity. Contrary to many lighter styles of this variety, wines like this age into wines of great character. I always say in the Napa Valley that we make Sauvignon Blanc for crab and lobster, not oysters.” I couldn’t agree more.
The Talcott Vineyard in St. Helena, home of the grapes found in these Cornerstone wines, is mature with over twenty year old vines which are dry farmed. The vines use the residual moisture in the soil to produce grapes that ripen evenly and as a result, the flavors and sugars blend with a natural acidity. Each year presented challenges yet the wines in my glass offered so many rewards.
2009 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc (sample) – The 2009 vintage was mild. A late bud break thanks to a dry, cool winter, spring rains, June heat, and a moderate summer with a late season heat caused ripening to occur consistently. The grapes were given the opportunity to develop just the right amount of acidity. Now, if you’ve never seen the lovely brightness of pale straw in the glass, then you need to find this wine! The intense aromas of pear and tropical fruit led my taste buds to be a bit impatient for the first sip! On the palate, the touch of juicy grapefruit paired with snappy citrus and minerality balanced perfectly with a lively acidity. A velvety, lingering finish caused me to consider this wine one which I wanted to keep all for myself! It was a true beauty. Cost is $70.
2010 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc (sample) – Camp has stated that the 2010 vintage was “fantastic for our white varieties and especially the Sauvignon Blanc from the Talcott Vineyard.” The summer was unusually cool in Napa Valley and a coastal cloud layer caused the growth cycle to move slowly allowing ripening to occur at an even pace. The fruit was then able to develop perfect aromatics, flavors, and acidity. Glistening gold in the glass, the 2010 offered intense aromas of lemon and citrus. Dry with balanced acidity, minerality, and more tangy citrus, I loved the full body, rich mouthfeel and smooth long finish. The 2010 was incredible paired with fresh, grilled halibut, mild salsa, tomato quinoa, and roasted vegetables. Cost is $50.
2011 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc (sample) – One of the most important stages of the growth cycle of the vines, fruit set, occurs after flowering and “provides the foundation for the size and quality of the year’s harvest”. In the spring of 2011, the fruit set was severely affected by rainy, cold, and windy weather affecting the pollination and fertilization of the fruit. This resulted in grape shatter and much lower yields. Fortunately the rest of the season was mild with consistently warm summer days. Ripening occurred evenly and once again, the fruit was able to exhibit wonderful aromas, flavors, and acidity. The wine in my glass of the 2011 was pale gold and subtle aromas of stone fruit, pear, rich spice, and zesty minerality caused me to linger a bit. On the palate, I found more spice, stone fruit, and a zing leading to an elegant, satiny finish. I paired the 2011 with pistachio/honey crusted salmon – just wonderful. Cost is $30.
The Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc wines from three vintages of one vineyard were delicious, unique, and memorable. I thank Craig Camp and the team at Cornerstone for giving me this opportunity to stand a bit taller…I’m certainly not vertically challenged when it comes to wine. And you don’t have to be either!
Cheers~ Cindy
