2017 Sauvignon Blanc I
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc I opens pure and fresh on the floral and grassy/herbal rather than fruity nose. Gooseberries and white fruits rather than yellow-fleshed tropical aromas. Round and lush but also piquant on the palate, with some discreet petrol flavors and a slightly drying finish, this is an elegant, fresh and straightforward Sauvignon Blanc in the "Sancerre" style. Really a bit drying on the finish. Vinified in 500-liter barrels (of which one-third were new) and bottled in autumn last year. Tasted in December 2019.
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Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
David Schildknecht, Vinous
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Brought up largely in second- and third-use 500-liter barrels but with a share of stainless steel to enhance freshness, this leads with penetratingly high-toned peppermint and pennyroyal accompanied by passion fruit and sea breeze. Resinous notes from the oak mingle with lime, passion fruit and honeydew on a firm, full palate. The finish delivers more than adequate primary juiciness, while clinging with almost severe resinous, herbal pungency. This is certainly a bigger, more aggressive wine than its ostensibly lesser Roman numeral two sibling, but no more complex and considerably less animating, thirst-quenching or charming. (I haven’t yet tasted the “500” bottling of Sauvignon Blanc from this vintage.)