2017 Estate Cuvee Blanc, Sonoma Valley • St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

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2017

Cuvée Blanc

Wild Oak Vineyard

Sonoma Valley

Tasting Notes

Expressive aromas of jasmine, stonefruit, honey, and graham cracker announce this lovely Rhone-style blend. Lingering flavors follow with notes of juicy Comice pear, pineapple, and tangerine zest. A richness on the palate is balanced by bright acidity and a touch of minerality on the finish.

Vintage Notes

The 2017 growing season started out wet with record-breaking rainfall. The mild spring led to a timely bud break and good fruit set, followed by ideal conditions of cool mornings and warm, sunny days throughout the summer months. A few days of intense heat at the beginning of September sped up ripening throughout the region. Well-timed picks meant the majority of the fruit was in by the first week of October. Beautiful color, well-defined aromatics, and outstanding flavor define this vintage.

Vineyard Notes

Each of the grape varieties for this classic Rhone-inspired blend comes from our Certified Sustainable Wild Oak Estate Vineyard planted at the base of Sugarloaf Ridge and Hood Mountain in Sonoma Valley. The rock and gravel that have washed down over the centuries provide ideal soil conditions for small yields of concentrated fruit. Sonoma Valley’s cool evenings and warm afternoons allow the fruit to develop intense flavors and aromas while maintaining high acidity.

Winemaker Notes

Naturally flavorful off the vine, the grapes for this cuvée (French for blend) are picked in the early morning hours to retain their delicate flavors and aromas and sent immediately to press. The Marsanne and Roussanne were co-fermented with a little of the Viognier. The rest of the Viognier went into a tank by itself to allow for blending later. After a slow, cool fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks, the wines are aged in neutral French oak barrels for seven months before bottling.