White Wines

This botrytised White Riesling, grown at our Henry Ranch vineyard in Carneros, was harvested on December 29, 2009, a full two months after the regular harvest. The grapes were fully infected with the “noble rot” (botrytis cinerea), a fungus which naturally increases sugars. Depending on the conditions, botrytis can be either beneficial or devastating to grapes. (375ml half-bottle)

A drier style Riesling, with aromas of jasmine and pear, grapefruit and green apple characteristics, a slight grassiness and crisp natural acidity.

Sourced from two Napa Valley vineyards, this beautifully structured Sauvignon Blanc has balanced acidity along with a subtle grassiness and fig-like quality.  Pairs wonderfully with chicken Caesar salad.

Noted British wine writer Hugh Johnson proclaimed our Early Harvest White Riesling to be our “best-made wine” and found this crisp and food-friendly Riesling “fresh, fruity, clean and very, very appealing.”

This blend of our two major Chardonnay sources—Carsi Vineyard in Yountville and Henry Ranch in Carneros—has resulted in a wine with very appealing citrus and cinnamon aromas that introduce its clean, bright flavors of green apple, vanilla and sweet oak. You can drink this wine now or lay it down for one or two more years.

Riesling is made throughout the world, with the best examples coming from Germany, France’s Alsace region, south Australia, the Marlborough region of New Zealand, Washington state and, of course, northern California. Although its style varies, the varietal is typically low in alcohol, high in natural acidity and has the aromas and flavors of citrus, apple, apricot, pineapple, peach and pear, with hints of earth and mineral.

Carneros has been called the Burgundy of California because the two Burgundian grape varieties—Chardonnay and Pinot Noir—achieve exquisite flavors in this region.

Carsi Vineyard lies about thirteen miles south of the winery, in a wide, flat basin just north of the town of Napa. It’s a cooler zone of heavier soils where Chardonnay does exceptionally well. V. Sattui purchased the land in 1989 and invested heavily in soil amendments, fertilization and trellising of the existing vines before naming it after my great-grandfather Vittorio’s Italian village in the mountains above Genoa. We began to produce some excellent Chardonnays in just a short time.

We don’t make much of this wine; some years we don’t make any. But those who have had this crisp, medium-sweet blend of Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Marsanne, Roussanne and Semillon know that it’s one of our best values…and the perfect buffet and party wine.

Lovers of suave, rich, mouth-filling Chardonnays will find great appeal in this Reserve Stock bottling, a blend of the best fruit from our premium Chardonnay sources—Carsi Vineyard and Henry Ranch.