• 2004 Sauvignon Blanc
    Cuvée 128
    Mendocino
    • (750 ml) Sold Out!
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Sauvignon Blanc is grown in many nooks of the wine world but its historic heartland is Bordeaux. Recent DNA fingerprinting indicates that it, along with Cabernet Franc, were the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon, the marriage of a spontaneous field crossing sometime in the 18th century. For hundreds of years winemakers in Bordeaux have partnered their Sauvignon Blanc with Semillon, a grape that once was more prevalent there. Semillon adds depth and roundness to Sauvignon's racy acidity. Navarro follows this long Bordeaux tradition and this bottling contains 9% Semillon. In addition to blending varieties this wine partners a number of fine grape growers along Highway 128. The grapes came from three vineyards that are 13 miles apart and the grapes trickled in from Boonville and Yorkville over a languorous seven weeks. In 2002 Bill and Nancy Charles T-budded some young vines in Boonville to a new ENTAV selection and Navarro made a ten year purchase commitment. Their fruit roared into ripeness on August 24 (19% of blend).

Only 30% of Navarro's Sauvignon was aged in seasoned oak barrels. The lion's share was aged in chilled stainless steel to emphasize the variety's zesty nerve.

Lisa Thurston did graduate research in the same lab as our daughter Sarah at the Department of Enology at UC Davis. This November Lisa is marrying Frédéric Roskam at his family's winery Chateau Cantenac in St.-Émilion. Sarah will be hand delivering a case of Navarro wine to celebrate the marriage.

On September 9th Sauvignon Blanc grapes from Schoeneman Vineyards in Boonville (11%) were picked and then grapes from Yorkville Vineyards (61%) were harvested a few days later. Then there was an agonizing month wait for the rot prone Semillon (9%) in Yorkville to finally ripen. You will fall in love with the bright lime and kiwi flavors and the sensual hint of fig. Gold Medal winner.
Overly vigorous Sauvignon Blanc vines tend to produce wines that are excessively herbaceous. Top notch grape growers use low vigor rootstock and stringent canopy management to control the crop.

Specifications
  • Harvested: Aug.24 to Oct. 15, 2004
  • Sugars at harvest: 23.5° Brix
  • Bottled: Mar.17 & 18, 2005
  • Cases produced: 2485
  • Alcohol: 13.6%
  • Titratable acidity: 7.9 g/L
  • pH: 3.24