Bernardus Griva Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Arroyo Seco/Monterey 2023

The Data

Country USA

Appellation Arroyo Seco/Monterey

Varietal Sauvignon Blanc

Retail Price $30

ABV 12.8%

Score 4.5 Stars/94 points

In the Glass

Appearance

Brilliant, light golden color.

Aromatics

The aromatics are intense, offering scents of grapefruit, honeysuckle, and slate with supporting notes of green tea, guava, fresh herbs, and hints of chamomile.

Flavor

The palate confirms the nose, delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of quince, ripe kiwi, apricot stone, bees wax, and pomelo. The finish is long and lingering with a pleasingly tart edge.

Intensity & Texture

Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant yet supple texture.

Cool Factor

The use of the “Musqué” clone grown in this incredible AVA has created Sauvignon Blanc that is unmatched in depth, flavor, and texture. It’s very cool.

Value Grade

B+

This superb and unique wine won’t find its way to a bargain bin near you, but hopefully it finds its way to your table.

Analysis

Bernardus has created this complex and delicious Sauvignon Blanc with fruit sourced from the Griva Vineyard in Arroyo Seco AVA. This vineyard was planted by Michael Griva, president of the Arroyo Seco Winegrowers Association, in 1997. It now spans 396 acres. The block utilized for this wine features the Sauvignon Blanc “Musqué” clone, which is a variant of the Sauvignon Blanc grape known for its pronounced and intense, floral, and musky aromatic qualities. This clone tends to produce wines with a richer, rounder mouthfeel and slightly lower acidity compared to most Sauvignon Blanc variants. This wine is predominantly made with Sauvignon Blanc with just a touch of Semillon. In 2023, yields in the Central Coast were higher than usual, with a relatively cool summer and late harvesting dates resulting in a high fruit expression. It was fermented in stainless steel at a cool temperature and then aged for several months in large, neutral French oak vessels. The results are spectacular — one of our favorite Sauvignon Blancs of the year.

How to Enjoy

Serve chilled but not too cold, as this will mute the subtle aromatics and flavors found in this wine. Serve with grilled fowl or fresh yellow curry.