Pale yellow color; lime, pear, citrus, earth, minerality on the nose and palate.
Dry, zero residual sugar; no tannins, crisp acidity (3.41 pH). Light body. Grapes are hand-picked as soon as the green and grassy aromas have faded. Grapes whole-cluster pressed. Juice is settled and shipped directly to neutral oak barrels for fermentation and six months lying on the lees. 100 percent malolactic conversion. 13.2% ABV
Wine adroitly balanced, elegant. Sauv blanc earthiness but little or no herbaceousness. Delicate fruitiness without overpowering tropical fruits. Grapes come from Balletto’s estate vineyard on Hall Road located in a low and cold valley on the Santa Rosa Plains. The microclimate is ideal for sauv blanc with its cold, acidity-enhancing nights and warm days. The grapes are among the last to be harvested, with the extended hang time adding complexity and nuanced flavors. The winery’s choice of neutral oak allows the crisp, polished flavors to take center stage.
Balletto is one of the few Russian River wineries to be 100% estate grown and bottled. All vineyards are sustainably grown. The winery concentrates on cool climate chardonnay, pinot noir, and this sauvignon blanc. Grapes are hand-picked. Fermentation by native yeasts.
In 1977, when his father suffered an untimely death, 17-year-old John Balletto chose to forego his collegiate athletic career to help his mother, Hazel, on the family farm. With just $200 in the bank, a flatbed truck, and five acres of land, John set about making it work. Alongside his wife, Terri, John expanded the farm into the largest vegetable farm north of the Golden Gate Bridge. They grew more than 70 different vegetables on more than 700 acres. More than two million cases of mixed vegetables moved through the facility.
As water issues constrained production, John looked for crops less dependent on water. Friend and neighbor Warren Dutton of Dutton Ranch encouraged John to plant his first vineyard in 1995. With El Niño issues and NAFTA, the vegetable business became more problematic. In 1999, John turned to grapes. He created Balletto Vineyards in 2001. Since then, Balletto Vineyards has grown to 22,000 cases a year, all using estate-grown fruit.
Balletto Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley 2023 is brisk, pure expression of sauv blanc. Elegant restraint avoids herbaceous elements and oak and achieves a refined experience with vibrancy and depth. All grapes estate grown. Wine is estate bottled, giving Balletto 100% control over their impressive product. Sauvignon blanc is famously food friendly. Pair with fish and seafood—oysters, clams, lobster, shellfish in general, grilled shrimp, garlic prawns, lightly seasoned halibut, cod, sea bass; grilled or roasted salmon with citrus or herb-based seasoning. Fresh garden salads, asparagus risotto, zucchini noodles with pesto, chilled gazpacho with avocado garnish. Cheese—fresh, un-aged goat cheese is classic; mozzarella, aged gouda, gruyère, feta, asiago. $30-34