Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc

Description

Emmolo carries on a family tradition dating back to 1923, when my great-grandfather Salvatore Emmolo immigrated from Italy to Rutherford. Buying property that remains in the family to this day, he built a winery and started a grapevine rootstock nursery. Managed for many years by my grandfather Frank Emmolo, the nursery became the leading supplier to Napa Valley vintners. My mother, Cheryl, launched Emmolo wines in 1994she didnt have any brothers and wanted to ensure that the family name lives on. Today, Im honored to be continuing the family legacy with my fourth release of Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot. Most of our grapes are still grown on family property, and my grandparents, Frank and Annie, still live in Rutherfordwhere they sit on their porch keeping an eye on the vines.Production and Style I see great potential to create a singular expression of Sauvignon Blanc. My goal is to make the most of the climate, soil and growing conditions of Napa Valley to craft a distinct style of this varietal. I take inspiration from the idea that with Sauvignon Blanc, less is more. Not grassy or overly ripe, this wine offers up a range of delicate fruit flavors from citrus to melon with bright minerality, crispness and multiple dimensions.The style and character of Emmolo starts in the vineyard. This vintage was sourced from two family vineyardsEmmolo Rutherford provides fresh citrus characteristics, while Emmolo Oak Knoll lends crisp minerality. The 2015 growing season was unusually warm in the late winter and early spring, resulting in an early bud break. Harvestwhich ran from early to late Augustwas one of the earliest on record, and despite a lower yield, fruit quality was high. The grapes were lightly pressed and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. I aged the wine primarily in stainless steel, with a smaller portion in older French oak barrels to add depth and complexity while preserving the varietys character.Emmolo 2015 Sauvignon Blanc Tasting Notes With a pale gold hue, the 2015 vintage opens on the nose with the fresh, light scents of melon and white peach. A flintiness comes through on the palateevoking the impression of a first summer rainand an initial tartness carries throughout. Delicate flavors, along with the wines minerality, build toward a lingering finish, crisp and dry and calling you back for another refreshing sip.Im going after a subtle wine that is more minerality-driven than fruit-driven. In my view, with Sauvignon Blanc, less is more. – Jenny Wagner, Winemaker