2017 Leto Cellars Bennett Valley Chardonnay

2017 Leto Cellars Bennett Valley Sonoma County Chardonnay

with No Comment $30 and underBennett ValleyChardonnayKevin VogtSonomaUSA

LETO CELLARS 2017 Leto Cellars Bennett Valley Chardonnay

2017 CHARDONNAY
BENNETT VALLEY
SONOMA COUNTY

 
Many of the greatest wines that we evaluate at our weekly tastings are tasted without knowing the retail price, along with little to no information about them other than what’s printed on the bottle.  With Leto Cellars’ 2017 Chardonnay, we knew from first-hand experience how great their Cabernets have performed for the price, and we also knew the wine was made by a seasoned winemaker with more than 50 vintages under his belt…  On the palate the wine had remarkable structure, ample acidity, and detailed poached pear, granny smith apple and white peach.  It absolutely shatters expectations at this price.
 
This incredibly small 110 case production Chardonnay was forged from the newly formed Bennett Valley Appellation in Sonoma County.  Bennett Valley is unique in that it’s surrounded on three sides by the Sonoma Mountain range, and receives cooling from the Pacific Ocean flowing through Crane Canyon, which runs the length of the gap between Sonoma and Taylor Mountains.  The cooling plays a large role in allowing the grapes to maintain a firm acidity and structure, and Leto’s 2017 Chardonnay is the perfect example…
 
LETO CELLARS
2017 CHARDONNAY
BENNETT VALLEY
SONOMA COUNTY
Retails at:  $30/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “The 2017 Leto Cellars Bennett Valley Chardonnay has a bright, floral nose along with an amazing freshness on the palate, showcasing crisp green apples, ripe pear, and balanced, integrated sweet vanilla oak.  It is lively on the palate and not in the least bit cloying or heavy, and beautifully displays this wonderfully fresh style.”
2017 Grey Stack Dry Stack Vineyard Rosemary's Block Sauvignon Blanc

2017 Grey Stack Dry Stack Vineyard Rosemary’s Block Sauvignon Blanc

with No Comment $30-$40Bennett ValleySauvignon BlancSonomaUSA

GREY STACK

2017 SAUVIGNON BLANC
DRY STACK VINEYARD
ROSEMARY’S BLOCK

2017 Grey Stack Dry Stack Vineyard Rosemary's Block Sauvignon Blanc
It’s all about the vineyard, and when I think of California’s most memorable Sauvignon Blancs, I’m continually drawn to Dry Stack Vineyard in Bennett Valley.  That feeling was set in stone when I tasted Grey Stack’s latest release which has already scored 94 Points (that’s particularly high for Sauvignon Blanc.)  Perfectly expressing the essence of Dry Stack… Intense, vivid and with copious rocky minerals and abundant yet detailed notes of fresh guava, ripe tangerine, Island mango and mineral infused citrus.  You might think $32 is a little high for Sauvignon Blanc, but when you taste the wine it’s actually a stunning value for a wine of this magnitude. 
 
Brought to life by winemaker Patrick Sullivan whose vast experience includes making wine at Peter Michael, Paul Hobbs, Lewis Cellars and Rudd.  The Dry Stack Vineyard is strategically positioned in Bennett Valley which lies Southeast of Santa Rosa along a minor Mountain range.  With a cooler climate with heavy maritime influence, the vineyard itself sits at 550 feet in elevation on a rocky bench and produces fruit of magical qualities.  If you love Sauvignon Blanc, or better yet, even if you don’t… Try this one and you’ll probably never look back. 
 
GREY STACK
2017 SAUVIGNON BLANC
DRY STACK VINEYARD
ROSEMARY’S BLOCK
 
Your Price: $31.99/btl 
 
From The Wine Enthusiast: “This block is home to a mysterious clone of Sauvignon Blanc that appears to be the only one of its kind in the region and thought to hail originally from Northern Italy. The resulting wine is citrus-driven on the nose and on the palate-a pure expression that shows complexity and rich layers of flavor, with an intensity of lemongrass.” 94 Points

 

 
Customers that enjoy Grey Stack’s Rosemary’s Block  Sauvignon Blanc may also enjoy these two terrific whites…
2016 Illumination by Quintessa Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Elizabeth Spencer Mendocino Sauvignon Blance
ILLUMINATION
2016 SAUVIGNON BLANC
BY QUINTESSA 
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
With a striking bouquet that is one of the most penetrating and intense from any Sauvignon Blanc I’ve ever experienced, spotlighting vivid passionfruit, exotic mango, zesty tangerine, caramelized grapefruit and sweet floral, Quintessa’s 2016  Illumination is exceptionally bright and full of energy. This wine guaranteed to brighten any occasion…
ELIZABETH SPENCER
SAUVIGNON BLANC
2017 MENDOCINO
Retails at:  $22.00/btl
 
Your Price: $19.99/btl 

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Tasting Notes: “… lovingly inspired by the Loire Valley. White peach and apricot, yellow grapefruit, and lemon blossom aromas erupt from the glass. These aromatics carry through and lend a dry fruitiness to the mineral driven pallet. The wine has very appealing ripeness and great balancing acidity, where the complexity of stone fruit and green apples, yield to a very citrusy, crisp finish.”