Stag's Leap Wine Cellars AVETA Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars AVETA Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley is a off-dry, very full-bodied red from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscat (Napa Valley, United States), in the rich, smooth reds style. Tannins are firm and acidity fresh; oak influence is none. Good with goat cheese, asparagus, blue cheese, steak.
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chateau Purcari Academia Saperavi 2021 Chateau Purcari · South Eastern | £40.60 | |||
| Chateau de la Gardine Chateauneuf Du Pape 2021 Château De La Gardine · Rhône | £38.03 | |||
| Chateau de la Gardine Chateauneuf Du Pape 2022 Château De La Gardine · Rhône | £38.03 | |||
| Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf Du Pape 2023 Domaine de Beaurenard · Rhône | £42.43 |
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars is best known for the red that beat Bordeaux at the 1976 Paris tasting - but AVETA shows they're just as deft with white. It's their Sauvignon Blanc, named after a water goddess often shown carrying fruit, which suits a wine this aromatic. The fruit comes from cooler pockets of the valley, chiefly the Oak Knoll District, where morning fog keeps the grapes fresh. Sauvignon Blanc makes up the bulk of the blend, with a substantial proportion of the intensely aromatic Sauvignon Musqué clone lifting the aromatics, and small amounts of Semillon and Muscat Canelli rounding it out. It's fermented cool, mostly in stainless steel with a portion in neutral French oak, then rested on light lees for six months, which adds a touch of weight without dulling the freshness. The result is bright and citrus-led - grapefruit, lime and lemongrass - with a riper note of peach and a clean, mineral finish. There's a little more texture and depth here than a typical zippy Sauvignon Blanc. Serve well chilled, around 8-10°C.