2009 Mount Veeder Sauvignon Blanc

It is surprising what Rudd has been able to achieve with Sauvignon Blanc. The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc comes from his vineyard on Mt. Veeder. Aged in a combination of concrete egg shaped tanks, stainless steel and barrels, it includes 6% Semillon. It boasts extraordinary minerality as well as laser-like precision and notes of honeyed melons intermixed with gun flint, nectarines and lemon blossoms. A beautifully textured, rich, fresh Sauvignon Blanc, it should drink nicely for several years. Ever since Leslie Rudd acquired this estate, formerly known as Girard, at the corner of the Silverado Trail and the Oakville Crossroads, he has been hell-bent to build it into not only one of the finest in Napa Valley, but in the world. This has involved a number of bold moves, including installing super-star David Abreu as vineyard manager, bringing in Pat Sullivan as the winemaker, and hiring Bordeaux’s globe-trotting consultant, Michel Rolland. The current portfolio is Rudd’s strongest to date. The Bordeaux varietal offerings come from one of Napa Valley’s classic sectors, which many people believe is the sweet spot for Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, the Oakville Corridor. Rudd’s neighbors include such renowned estates as Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle and Plumpjack. Tel. (707) 944-8577; Fax (707) 944-2823