Light yellow color; lemon grass, melon, gooseberry on the nose; grapefruit, white peach, lemon on the palate.
Relatively high-end Napa maker founded by Chinese businessman Eric Yuan farms 116 acres organically on Atlas Peak. Viticulturist Steve Matthiasson (he appears in the documentary “SOMM: Into the Bottle”) and winemaker Denis Malbec (who produced 100-point wines) clearly had extraordinary terroir to work with and fashioned a sauv blanc with brilliant acidity that is clean, crisp with significant tang on lingering finish. Great food wine; it may be bit too austere and sharp for solo pleasure sipping, but that is matter of personal taste. No question this is well made with great sauvignon blanc fruit.
Tragically, Denis Malbec died in an automobile accident in April 2016 at age 46.
Acumen Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2014 is a step into the Napa Valley bigger leagues. Very pure expression of Napa Valley sauvignon blanc fruit. Very dry, bracing, yearns to pair with shellfish, crab and lobster, salads (especially ones with goat cheese), sautéd veggies, white fish, grilled fish, grilled chicken, pork chops. $30-34
Other photos: Steve Matthiasson; Denis Malbec and his wife and fellow winemaker, May-Britt, a Swedish sommelier when they met.
