cropthreash


Handmade wines since 1983.

 

 

 


2010 SAUVIGNON BLANC MCGINLEY Santa Ynez Valley

I’ve made thirteen vintages of sauvignon blanc from this site and this one is completely unique. Every year this is the first fruit we harvest, and despite one of the coolest summers on record, we picked at about the same time we always do. But my!--the flavor and texture of this wine is so different from the typical McGinley Vineyard sauvignon blanc. Sauvignon blanc has an herbal component that can be positive or negative, and I expected the wine from such a cool harvest to be excessively herbal, but that’s not what happened. On the contrary, the herbal aspects are muted and smokier, and gun flint and mineral aromas are present. Texture-wise, this wine with a modest 12.5% alcohol is supple, fresh, but not too acidic--and altogether delicious to drink.

In our continuing efforts to further increase quality at McGinley, we farm our blocks organically (although not certified). Doing so costs a little more, but I think it's worth it. Besides peace of mind, there are also practical reasons for following organic practices: for instance, natural fertilizers affect the vine slowly while chemical fertilizers charge up the vine, bringing too much leaf growth, which is bad for quality. And, although synthetic pesticides are handy if a grower is negligent and gets in trouble, the careful grower anticipates problems before they develop and can use milder organic compounds to avoid them. Paying close attention to the vine's needs is essential for fine grape growing--so going organic dovetails well with the goals of craft winemaking. (987 cases produced.)

Connoisseur's Guide (Nov 2012)
2 out of 3 Stars / 93 Points

Rich, well-defined and very lively with deep aromas of fresh figs, herbs and a bare kiss of oak, this carefully crafted wine is both rich and well-polished with plentiful varietal fruit and exemplary balance. Its mouth-watering acidity enlivens and lengthens without ever seeming at all intrusive, and there is a structural seamlessness about the wine that simply sets it apart. We like this one a great deal, but we expect that we will like it more several years hence.

Reviewed: November 2012