Tasting Notes
DETAILS
Owner: Eric Story, Alison Smith StoryWinemaker:
Varietal: Array
Vintage: 2019 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc
Production: 835
Region: Sonoma County
Appellation: Knights Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Mountain
Aging: 6 mo. Stainless Steel
With its crisp, light taste and affordable price, the versatility of California Sauvignon Blanc makes it the wine of choice for many Bay Area foodies.
One winemaker told me, “Sauvignon Blanc is every winemaker’s dream. It is harvested, crushed, and ready for bottling in weeks. Therefore, you are not waiting months and years to get it on shelves.”- unknown.
Thoughts
There is nothing I love more than a cool climate Sauvignon Blanc. For instance, The Smith Story 2017 Sonoma Count Sauvignon Blanc! The fruit for this wine comes from three distinct cooler-climate AVA’s. (Knights Valley, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Mountain) Each vineyard is vinified separately then blended. As a result, the wine is a perfect representation of the winemaker’s unique style. It is delicious, crisp, and well-balanced.
When you remove the cork, you smell the distinct aroma of this cool climate wine. Fresh white peach and tropical fruit entice your palate as the scent of orange blossom and lemon zest tickles your nose. Moreover, it is bursting with a minerality, a perfect balance for the fruit, making this wine a stunning celebration of the terroir where it grows.
Pairings
Smith Story Sauvignon Blanc is a versatile wine that doesn’t require overthinking. For example, you can serve it with a simple grilled chicken or fish. In addition, it has bright acidity and aromatic citrus notes, which can soften the taste of bitter greens in your salad. If you love a bit of spice, it is the perfect companion to Thai or Indian cuisine. Lastly, we can’t forget about vegetarians. You will be the envy of your carnivore friends while you enjoy a sweet pea and grilled asparagus risotto.
Wine Tasting Experience
The Madrones, with its picture-perfect Mediterranean styling, is an ideal tasting room location for this family-owned small-batch winery. The outdoor patio is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a glass of wine.
My tasting partner Lord Sandwich, the couples Labradoodle and taste room ambassador, greeted me with unabashed enthusiasm. Being a pooch-loving mom myself, I am always delighted to see tasting rooms that welcome our furry friends.
After a long day of pouring wine, I was glad to have Eric and Ali join me. My tasting takes place at the end of the day. This allows me to spend time with the owners and learn about their unique backgrounds and perspectives on the wine industry’s current changes and challenges.
I found many great new discoveries in the winery’s standard lineup. But the real fun happened when Eric started digging into the winery’s limited production bottles, single-vineyard wines, and smaller production wines.
From the Winemaker
“Powerful yet mouthwatering, the 2017 Sauvignon Blanc is a clean, juicy, vibrant, lemony-lime citrus, mineral-scented combination with our trademark high acidity and crisp fruit flavor, balanced on the palate.
The harvest is between September 5th and September 8th. A whole cluster pressing and fermentation process is used. Each vineyard is aged separately in stainless steel tanks for six months on the lees.
Learn More About: Eric Story