Screaming Eagle 2017 Sauvignon Blanc

Screaming Eagle's 2017 Sauvignon Blanc emerges as a radiant masterpiece, its pale golden color reflecting the luminosity of the Napa Valley sun. From the moment it is poured, the nose bursts forth with exuberance, revealing a captivating array of scents. Ripe peaches, passion fruit, and musk perfume dance harmoniously with fragrances of honeycomb, elderflower, ripe gooseberries, and lemongrass. On the palate, this wine is a revelation, displaying an intense yet ethereal character. It is light-bodied and exquisitely fine, a true embodiment of elegance and refreshment. Layers of citrus and stone fruits intermingle with notes of chalk and sea spray, creating a shimmering tapestry of flavors that seem to dance on the palate. The finish is a testament to its vitality, marked by enduring length and energy. What sets this wine apart is its intriguing phenolic texture, closely resembling White Burgundies. Winemaker Nick Gislason's insight into the contribution of gross lees, rich in phenolic content, adds a unique and textural dimension to this exceptional wine. Screaming Eagle's 2017 Sauvignon Blanc is a true gem that stands as a testament to the artistry of Napa Valley winemaking.

Robert Parker - 98 Points

"The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, coming from a small section of estate vines closer to the Napa river. It is entirely fermented in French oak, but only about 5% is new. The grapes are pressed straight to barrels and kept on their gross lees. The wine is fermented using native yeasts. This vintage, the nose is not at all shy—it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of ripe peaches, passion fruit and musk perfume plus wafts of honeycomb, elderflower, ripe gooseberries and lemongrass with a waft of Bosc pears. The palate is super intense and yet ethereally weighted, light-bodied and oh-so-fine, elegant and refreshing, featuring a whole array of chalk and sea spray sparks, creating a shimmer to all the many citrus and stone fruit layers, finishing with great length and energy. There is a truly interesting phenolic texture to the palate that reminds me of some Chardonnays, particularly Burgundian examples. Winemaker Nick Gislason commented that the gross lees contain a lot of phenolic content, which is where the wine picks up that textural component. Love it!"