USA, California, Somona: 2017 Vintage Part 1
Climate change is making itself felt in vineyards around the world as winemakers do what they can to adjust. But as the 2017 vintage in Sonoma shows, great winemaking isn’t just about what happens in the cellar—it’s the ability to react to unexpected events in the vineyard…cheers to the triumphs the 2017 vintage has to offer.
Image: robertparker.com
Shared Notes is a joint venture between husband and wife Bibiana González Rave and Jeff Pisoni. “I worked at Haut-Brion for my thesis,” Rave says, “and Jeff worked at Peter Michael. So we both wanted to make an oak-fermented, French-inspired Sauvignon Blanc.”
2017 Les lecons des maîtres – 92 points
Composed of 68% Sauvignon Blanc and 32% Sémillon, the 2017 Les Leçons des Maîtres opens with aromas of gunflint, smoke and dried hay, fleshing out to lime zest, lemongrass, chopped herbs, pineapple, candle wax and white flowers. Light to medium-bodied with a waxy texture, it has loads of spicy tropical fruits and savory nuances lifted by zippy acidity, with a long, textured finish. Yum!
2017 Les pierres qui décident – 92+ points
The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Les Pierres Qui Décident is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc (all Musque clone), fermented in 100% new French oak and aged in puncheons for eight months. It has a wonderful nose of tarragon, lime leaf, chopped herbs, petrichor, quince paste, gooseberry and kiwi—this has tons of layers! Light to medium-bodied, it gives intense tropical and citrus flavors in the mouth, with very zippy acidity, pleasant texture and a long, mineral-driven finish. A serious Sauvignon Blanc.