DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Heitz Cellar
2017 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
(Napa Valley) $23

This wine was fashioned from 100% certified organic Sauvignon Blanc grapes sourced from the lower elevation of Ink Grade Vineyard, known for cold mornings and warm afternoons.

Aroma: Grapefruit, lemon, tangerine, honeydew, pineapple, guava, peach, pear, stone fruit, citrus, elderflower, jalapeño, minerality.
Palate: Big peach, white peach, nectarine, green apple, grapefruit, lemon, citrus, lime peel, grassy, crisp, zesty, classic tartness.
Finish: Peach, lime, citrus, citrus pith, floral, mineral, crisp, delicious.

Double Gold Medal

Sean Minor
2017 Sauvignon Blanc
(Sonona) $12

Following harvest, grapes (100% Sauvignon Blanc) for this wine were “whole cluster pressed” with a portion of the juice fermented in neutral French oak barrels and the majority in stainless steel tanks.

Aroma: Ripe peach, white peach, passion fruit, mango, guava, melon, lemon, citrus, candied citrus, honeysuckle, white flowers, beautiful.
Palate: Melon, honeydew, kiwi, yellow peach, pineapple, lemon, citrus, white flowers, floral, nutmeg, really yummy, delicious.
Finish: White peach, honeydew melon, fruity, floral, soft, smooth, tasty.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Cornerstone Cellars
2016 Sauvignon Blanc
(Napa Valley) $27

This 100% Sauvignon Blanc wine was made from 70% Clone 1 and 30% Musque Clone grapes.

Aroma: Ripe honeydew, lime, pineapple, tropical fruit, herbal, floral, lemongrass, celery, jalapeño, clean, crisp.
Palate: White peach, pineapple, melon, white grapefruit, squeeze of lemon, lime, citrus, balance of citrus and herbal, herbalicious, elderflower, grassy, super fresh, an all-day wine.
Finish: White grapefruit, green bell pepper, mint, crisp, well balanced, layered, complex.

Gold Medal

Alpha Omega
2016 Sauvignon Blanc 1155
(Napa Valley) $77

Following harvest, 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes were fermented in French oak (97%) or French Acacia (3%) barrels, then aged on its lees (wasted yeast) for 9 months before bottling.

Aroma: Ripe peach, ripe cantaloupe, melon, light lemon, white flowers, hoenysuckle, floral, grassy, mossy, minerality.
Palate: Pink grapefruit, white grapefruit, tangerine, melon, peach, Granny Smith apple, green pepper, oak.
Finish: Pear, grapefruit pith, a touch grassy, minerality, crisp, yummy.

Gold Medal

Tortoise Creek
“Cuvee Jean” 2016 Sauvignon Blanc
(Central Coast) $13

Certified “sustainable” grapes for this wine hailed from Monterey (70%) and Paso Robles (30%), with fermentation conducted in stainless steel tanks at cold temperatures.

Aroma: Melon, honeydew, peach, apricot, pineapple, lemon peel, lemon zest, celery, lemongrass, elderflower.
Palate: Green apple, lemon, lime, kiwi, watermelon, pear, peach, guava, mango, white flower, soft.
Finish: Bartlett pear, white peach, lemon twist, lime note, balanced, delicate, bright.

Gold Medal

Keever Vineyards
2016 Sauvignon Blanc
(Napa Valley) $32

Grapes for this 100% Sauvignon Blanc wine underwent barrel fermentation, with aging on its lees (wasted yeast) in French oak (46%) and stainless steel (54%) for over 6 months before bottling.

Aroma: Grapefruit, pink grapefruit, honeydew, white peach, lemon, grass, basil, herbal, earthy, oak undertones, mineral, bright.
Palate: Honeydew melon, tangerine , pineapple. Lemon zest, elderflower, creamy, buttery, earthy notes, mineral, light oak.
Finish: Citrus, dried grass, earthy, zesty, smooth, delicious.

Gold Medal

Coquerel Family Wine Estates
2016 Le Petit Coquerel Sauvignon Blanc
(Napa Valley) $22

The majority of grapes used to make this wine were from the winery’s estate Walnut Wash Vineyard in Calistoga. Following harvest, the clusters were de-stemmed and gently pressed, with fermentation in stainless steel barrels and aging on frequestly stirred lees (wasted yeast).

Aroma: Grapefruit, lemon, citrus, green apple, pear, kiwi, peach, apricot, floral, grassy, chalk, minerality.
Palate: Apricot, pineapple, mango, pear, lemon, lime, lemon zest, floral, tart, minerality, complex, sparkle.
Finish: Green apple, mango, lemon, lime, light minerality, clean, crisp, bright.

Gold Medal

Cakebread Cellars
2016 Sauvignon Blanc
(Napa Valley) $26

This wine was made from a blend of 97% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Semillon.

Aroma: White grapefruit, lime, stone fruit, pineapple, white flowers, light floral, grassy, minerality, fresh, delicate.
Palate: White peach, guava, bright lime, citrus, light pear, lemon curd, delicate.
Finish: Key lime, lime zest, citrus, light pear, perfectly balanced, clean, delicate, elegant.

Gold Medal

Bogle Vineyards
2016 Sauvignon Blanc
(Clarksburg) $9

Grapes were sourced for this wine from vineyards in Monterey County, the Russian River and Clarksburg areas. Following harvest, the grapes were fermented in stainless steel at cool temperatures.

Aroma: Peach, white peach, pineapple, apricot, light grapefruit, white flowers, green pepper, grassy.
Palate: White peach, yellow peach, mango, guava, pineapple, grapefruit, lime peel, white flowers, green grass, mineral.
Finish: Pear, peach, lime zest, smooth.

Gold Medal

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Elizabeth Spencer Winery
2016 Special Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc
(Mendocino) $17

This wine was made from certified organic grapes grown on the 37-year old Gibson Vineyard (that sits on the Talmage Bench, just east of Ukiah) and from the McFadden Vineyard (on the edge of Potter Valley). It was fermented in stainless steel and aged on its lees (wasted yeast) before bottling.

Aroma: Meyer lemon, lime, citrus, green apple, melon, peach, fleetingly grassy, zesty.
Palate: Green apple, lemon, white peach, peach, melon, citrus, white flowers, fresh green grass, delicate, crisp.
Finish: Granny Smith apple, apple pie, twist of lime, touch of wood, tart, zesty, clean, elegant.

Silver Medal

Blackbird Vineyards
Dissonance 2016 Sauvignon Blanc
(Napa Valley) $32

This wine was made from grapes harvested in the Carneros Region of Napa Valley. Following fermentation – with stirring of the lees (wasted yeast) over 6 months – the wine was aged in a combination of clay amphorae and neutral French oak barrels.

Aroma: Grapefruit, lemon/lime, tangerine, passion fruit, melon, herbal, buttery, grassy, minerality.
Palate: Melon, juicy melon, kiwi, pear, peach, guava, lemon, lime, lemon zest, elderflower, grass, minerality.
Finish: Pear, peach, kiwi, orange, citrus notes, lemon/lime pith, vanilla, smooth, soft, refreshing, elegant, perfect for the beach.

Silver Medal

Santa Barbara Winery
2016 Sauvignon Blanc
(Santa Ynez Valley) $17

Grapes (85% Musque Clone) from the eastern side of Santa Ynez Valley were pressed with 20% of the juice barrel fermented in neutral oak puncheons and the remainder in stainless steel.

Aroma: Fresh white peach, peach, mango, tropical fruit, gooseberry, honeydew, orange, lemon, lime pith, grass, aromatic.
Palate: Green apple, Golden Delicious apple, white grapefruit, lemon, lime, citrus, white peach, white flowers, crisp.
Finish: Green apple, lime, lemon, light grapefruit, green bell pepper, grassy, elegant.

Silver Medal

Six Sigma Ranch
Asbill Valley 2016 Sauvignon Blanc
(Lake County) $18

Grapes for this wine (100% Sauvignon Blanc) were grown on Michael’s Vineyard noted for gently sloping hills and a complex mix of soils. Following fermentation in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures, the wine was kept on its lees (wasted yeast) and stirred once a month, with 3% barrel-aged.

Aroma: Green apple, crisp apple, Golden Delicious apple, peach, tangerine, lemon, lemon zest, citrus, crisp.
Palate: White peach, pineapple, mango, baked apple, pear, green apple, grassy, balanced, soft, fresh.
Finish: Apple, light pear, touch of wood, smooth, easy drinking.

Silver Medal