2010 Miani Sauvignon Banel

The 2010 Sauvignon Banel is quite cool and introspective in this vintage. Bright mineral notes add freshness to what is a surprisignly large-scaled wine. The creaminess that is typical of the Banel has been replaced by firm, insistent veins of minerality. Peaches, apricots, spices, sage and tomato leaf meld together beautifully in this expressive Sauvignon. In 2010 the Banel is less overtly fruit-driven than in some recent past vintages. The 2010 impresses for its fabulous balance and overall sense of proportion. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020. There are few properties anywhere in the world I look forward to visting more than Miani. Proprietor Enzo Pontoni continues to turn out riveting wines. I have been steadily working through my stash of 2009s and can report that the wines are every bit as fabulous as my reviews suggested. Production remains around 8,000 bottles a year, but Pontoni is developing a number of new vineyards sites, so hopefully that number will increase over the coming years. The 2010 whites are terrific, but they are tightly wound and need to be opened well in advance. Importer: The Sorting Table, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 603-1461