The Spring
Mountain District AVA wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for Spring Mountain
Vineyard. Many of the vines under their ownership were originally planted by
the renowned Beringer brothers. Known for classically styled mountain
Cabernet Sauvignon, “SMV” has never veered away from their traditional approach
to winemaking. While the estate is driven by Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux
inspired blends, their Sauvignon Blanc has quite a following with restaurants across
the country and with their mailing list. Since 1993, their estate-grown Sauvignon
Blanc has been styled along the lines of a White Bordeaux. After one whiff and
taste, we thought it could hold company with a top estate in Pessac-Léognan. The
wine is whole cluster pressed then the free run juice is cold settled overnight
before its transferred into French barrique to complete its fermentation. The
wine sees six months of sur-lie aging before being bottled. This effort is a
balancing act between the bright citrus flavors of the Sauvignon Blanc with the
rich, yeasty elements of the barrel fermentation. The wine has an incredibly rich texture. Notes of preserved lemon, mandarin
orange, stone fruit and gooseberry hit ever part of the mouth. This high-tone
fruit is beautifully interwoven with base notes of toast and vanilla. Fresh and
lengthy on the finish. We would put this up against a Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc
or Château Carbonnieux Blanc in a heartbeat!