Beverage of the Week (BOW)
Clif Family Winery Rte Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Oak Knoll District 2023
Product Story
Tasting the Clif Family Winery Rte Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Oak Knoll District 2023 marked our first experience with wines from this Napa Valley producer. While much of the Napa Valley is too hot to produce Sauvignon Blanc with vibrancy and complex citrus notes (the hallmark of Sauvignon Blanc), the fruit for this wine comes from the organically farmed Valle di Sotto vineyard in Napa Valley's famed Oak Knoll District. Oak Knoll sits at the southern end of the Napa Valley, where the proximity to the San Pablo Bay offers cool nights and early mornings. To preserve the beautiful grapefruit and herbal notes, this wine was aged in 80% stainless steel and 20% neutral oak for four months with no malolactic fermentation. Malolactic is great in most Chardonnays as it enhances the rich and creamy elements of the fruit, while Sauvignon Blanc is best expressed with bright acidity. Further, this wine is bottled at a moderate alcohol that also contributes to its vibrancy.
Brand Story
Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, co-creators of the famous Clif Bar, have created Clif Family Winery. They have built a 100-acre farm with an organic vineyard, vegetable garden, olive grove, and fruit orchard. The Clif Family Winery vineyards are located in the Howell Mountain and Oak Knoll District AVA’s of the Napa Valley. Their vineyards have been awarded Napa Green and CCOF certifications. The wines are made by Laura Barrett, who holds a Masters in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis. Her wines are balanced and layered. At present offers dozens of wines with a focus on Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tasting Note
Brilliant, light green/gold color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of grass, red grapefruit, citrus zest, and fresh herbs with supporting notes of star fruit, green tea, and kiwi. The palate echoes the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of red grapefruit, lemongrass, quince, and wet stones. The finish is crisp. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture.
How to Serve
Serve chilled but not too cold as this will mute the subtle aromatics and flavors found in this wine. Serve with grilled fish, stir fries, and green curry.
Price: $ 30
BevX Review: http://bevx.com/wine-detail/?id=4454
