Rombauer Sauvignon Blanc

Our Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc marks an exciting milestone for Rombauer Vineyards the first new varietal introduced in more than 20 years and only the second white wine in our 35-year history.



VINEYARDS
The fruit for this wine comes from four carefully selected sites in Napa Valley offering lots of sunshine yet moderate temperatures ideal conditions for growing Sauvignon Blanc.
WINEGROWING
2015 brought the earliest harvest in our 35-year history. Yields were down overall, but prolonged warm weather resulted in exceptional fruit quality and richly flavored wines. Sustainable farming practices throughout the growing season were tailored to each block with the assistance of aerial photos produced using NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) technology. The fruit was hand-picked at dawn and sorted in the vineyard.
WINEMAKING
The grapes were gently whole-cluster pressed while the fruit was still cool. Ninety percent of the juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks. The remaining juice was fermented in neutral French oak barrels to impart weight and texture to the wine. The barrel-fermented portion was blended back to tank after three months in barrel.
TASTING NOTES
This wine is brilliant pale yellow with a bright green hue. It exudes aromas of ripe lime, grapefruit, pear and white nectarine with a subtle hint of fresh-cut grass. The palate is fresh and enticing, as grapefruit, white nectarine and deep tropical notes intertwine making the mouth water. Balanced yet lively acidity lingers on the palate inviting another taste. Boxwood on the finish gives the wine length and vibrant freshness.
Reviews
ST. HELENA STAR REVIEW OF 2015 SAUVIGNON BLANC
Making this wine a fun taste are two facts: This is the first new varietal introduced by Rombauer in more than 20 years, and it is just the second white wine in its 36-year history.

Rombauer has built up a big fan base and reputation for its rich, buttery and toasty chardonnay wines. Lest you think their sauvignon blanc will follow in that style, this is a great example of tasting before assuming.

Rombauers 2015 Sauvignon Blanc has zesty lemon and riper tangerine citrus with Asian pear and hints of ripe exotic pineapple. There are no noticeable oak flavors; the wine was fermented in stainless steel, and a small portion of neutral oak for a creamier mouthfeel. This is a deliciously fresh, fruit-forward, and beautifully balanced sauvignon blanc.

Catherine Bugue
January 25, 2016

PURCHASE
$24
WINE DETAILS

RELEASE DATE

February 2016
APPELLATION

Napa Valley
VARIETAL COMPOSITION

100% Sauvignon Blanc
HARVESTED

Aug. 13-Aug. 24, 2015
AVERAGE BRIX AT HARVEST

23.1
COOPERAGE

Stainless steel tanks (90%) and neutral French oak barrels (10%)
ALCOHOL

14.2%

Region Description

Comes mostly from California, France, New Zealand, and South Africa. Its highly acidic wines are often suggestive of herbs or grass. Light to medium bodied and usually dry, European versions are generally not oaky while California Sauvignon Blanc can take on many of the qualities of Chardonnay. France has two classic wine regions for the Sauvignon Blanc gape: Bordeaux and the Loire Valley The Bordeaux wine is called Bordeaux Blanc and the two best known of the Loire wines are called Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé. In Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes blended with Sémillon.