Sauvignon Blanc lovers unite! If you’ve been listening to me for the past 4 years, you already know that the Smith Story Sauvignon Blanc is California’s best. If you’ve not been listening to me, listen now!
Antonio Galloni, one of the best wine writers/critics out there, just gave the 2016 Smith Story Sauvignon Blanc 93 points. Yep, and that makes it California’s top-rated Sauvignon Blanc of the highly lauded 2016 vintage. With sunshine aplenty in these parts, this one is gonna’ fly outta’ here at a rapid pace.
2016 Smith Story Sauvignon Blanc
93 points Vinous Media
This vintage is sold out. Click here to order the current release in our online store.
I’ll start with Galloni’s review — it’s a strong and convincing one. “The 2016 Sauvignon Blanc is fabulous. Rich, layered and also quite structured, the Sauvignon Blanc exudes character. There is so much to like in the 2016. Above all else, Smith Story’s Sauvignon Blanc is full of personality. Varietal notes are nicely delineated, but not at all overpowering. Stony and floral notes add brightness throughout.” Sounds pretty good huh?
I say yes, and trust me, it tastes just as good as it sounds. Husband and wife Alison Smith and Eric Story are friends of mine, and it’s been a lot of fun for me to observe and take part in their rise as a producer. They say this wine is “inspired by the Sauvignon Blancs of Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé but grown and vinified with a proud California in mind… we often find ourselves referring to this as one as our star child.” Yep, these two love Sauvignon Blanc, they take great pride in this wine, and you can certainly taste it.
Composed of roughly 60% Knights Valley and 40% Sonoma Mountain fruit, the wine was fermented and aged for 6 months in stainless steel tanks, and just 775 cases were produced in the glorious 2016 vintage. Ali and Eric weren’t kidding when they said this one was inspired by their love of Loire Valley Sauvignon Blancs. That is certainly their muse for this wine, but there’s a richness and ripeness here that let’s you know this came from California. Think ripe lemon, white peach, green melon, passion fruit, green pepper, and mineral. Yep, there’s a lot going on here.
This vintage is sold out. Click here to order the current release in our online store.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville