Medium straw color; grapefruit, honeydew melon, gooseberry, flowers on the nose; grapefruit, apricot, white peach, lemon-lime, citrus on the palate.
Dry; plump, medium bodied on the initial attack, crisper citrus notes on the finish. This is the rounder, fuller, less assertive style of sauv blanc. Leans more toward California chardonnay than a New Zealand sauvignon blanc. Fermented and finished in 90% stainless steel, 10% in older barrels, so there is whisper of oak.
The Davis Family achieved a longtime dream when they purchased a century-old estate winery and began their ambitious project to restore a distinguished winery. The website notes: “Mike Davis has a long and fond association with the Napa Valley. Growing up in San Mateo County just south of San Francisco, his family spent summer vacations at the Napa Valley Ranch Club. Davis Estates is the culmination of a life long dream. Here the vision is carved from this historic site as an estate winery focused on wines of the highest pedigree.”
The winery has vines planted in Calistoga, Rutherford, Carneros, and Howell Mountain. The Calistoga estate is home of the enterprise. Its holding includes “155 picturesque acres, 11 acres are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Franc. The estate sweeps up from the famous Silverado Trail on the valley floor to 1,100 at its crest. This vast contrast of elevation, combined with a wide range of well draining volcanic soils and micro-climates, creates an ideal place to grow our preeminent grapes.”
The entire Davis family is involved in the project. Son Brandon Davis is the director of brand development and lives in a home located at one of the family’s vineyards. He and his wife have two children, Chase and Lily, and Davis Estates named two of their wines after them—Classic Chase and Lily Fleur. Jessica Link is the company president, bringing depth of experience at several wineries, including her own boutique label. She joined the company in 2016. Cary Gott is the winemaker. He owns and operates a company that helps people begin and operate super-premium wineries and vineyards.
Davis Estates Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2019 is silky and smooth in the mouth with restrained acidity for a sauv blanc. Straddles Cali chard and New Zealand sauv blanc profiles. Pair with shellfish; crab; lighter fish; chicken breast; vegetarian fare. Cheese—goat cheese is classic. $36-40
Davis Estates Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2019
