2021 Joseph Phelps Sauvignon Blanc

The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc comes entirely from the winery's home property in Saint Helena. Barrel fermented at relatively cool temperatures (55˚F), one-fifth of this year's volume was done in 500-liter puncheons instead of traditional barrels, with fermentation arrested at 3 grams per liter of residual sugar for stylistic reasons (it's imperceptible as sweetness to most tasters). The amount of malolactic fermentation varies from year to year, but winemaker Ashley Hepworth opted to block it entirely in 2021. Scents of pea shoots, fig, melon and grapefruit appear on the nose, while the palate is medium to full-bodied but refreshing and clean, streamlined without being sharp and harmonious overall. Interestingly, this wine is made from the winery's oldest existing vines, planted in 1992.