Sonoma: Looking at the 2019s
In a nutshell, 2019 is another strong vintage that fits nicely alongside the trilogy of 2016, 2017, and 2018 in terms of quality. I think 2018 is the best of these recent vintages, yet 2019 is certainly not far behind, and as I hope these reviews show, the vintage is a buyer’s paradise, offering beautiful wines from all appellations and at just about every price point.
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2019 Les leçons des maîtres – 93+ points
A solid step up from the more linear, racy Les Pierres Qui Decident, the 2019 Les Lecons Des Maitres checks in as 76% Sauvignon Blanc and 24% Semillon, all from the Russian River Valley. The acidity is better integrated and it’s more textured, yet it still plays in the vibrant, racy end of the spectrum, offering lots of tart lemon and pineapple fruits supported by ample mint, honeyed minerality, and chalky nuances. Medium-bodied, beautifully textured, and concentrated on the palate, it will benefit from a year or three of bottle age and keep for over a decade.
2019 Les pierres qui décident – 91 points
Coming all from Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc, the 2019 Les Pierres Qui Decident is as racy as they come yet still holds everything together and is balanced and incredibly delicious. Bright grapefruit, mint, chalky minerality, and sappy flower notes all define the nose, and it’s medium-bodied, with a soft, rounded texture, racy underlying acidity, and a great finish. It should keep for 10 to 15 years.