Ron and Susan Krausz are the proud owners of Arkenstone, a luxury Howell Mountain property that they purchased back in 1998. In 2006, they brought on Sam Kaplan, the insanely talented winemaker behind boutique brands, Memento Mori and Maxem. Since he joined the team as Winemaker, he's elevated their winemaking operations to produce some of Howell Mountain's most beloved wines year after years. More often than not, it’s the Cabernets we rave about, but this time around, we are so excited to share this newest bottling with you, Arkenstone’s Howell Mountain Sauvignon Blanc from their 13-acre estate vineyard. Planted primarily to traditional Bordeaux varietals, split into 22 separate blocks, the rootstocks, clones and varietals were carefully selected to match the widely varied soils, slopes and exposures found on the Arkenstone Estate. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc make up the majority of the plantings, in addition to a very small amount of Syrah. Arkenstone exclusively uses organic practices in the vineyards.
The Arkenstone Estate Sauvignon Blanc vines were originally planted in 1998, defined by six different vineyard blocks all of which are very steep and incredibly rocky in composition. These well-drained, white volcanic soils are able to produce rich and concentrated, yet beautifully balanced Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Alongside the Sauvignon Blanc, Sam and his vineyard team also farm a small block of Semillon which is blended into their Sauvignon Blanc. The percentage of Semillon will change each vintage, but the results are always consistent. The Semillon adds beautiful floral aromatics along with a bigger mid-palate that seamlessly complements and integrates with the Sauvignon Blanc’s natural notes of melon, citrus, and minerality. From their rigorous farming practices to meticulous winemaking in the cellar, this wine is their homage to the classic white wines of Bordeaux.
This 2017 is a blend of 94% Sauvignon Blanc and 6% Semillon. It was aged for 11 months in concrete eggs and a mix of new and used French oak, then further aged an additional 18 months in bottle. “One of the best whites from Napa, as well as one of the most age worthy discoveries, the 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Estate gives up serious notes of stone fruits, lime, orange blossom, and some obvious minerality on the nose. It’s full-bodied, concentrated, and textured, all while staying pure and incredibly precise on the palate.” ~Jeb Dunnuck
