2020 Estate Cuvée Blanc, Wild Oak Vineyard, Sonoma Valley • St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

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2020

Cuvée Blanc

Wild Oak Vineyard

Sonoma Valley

Tasting Notes

This estate-grown, aromatic white awakens with a bold, floral bouquet of summer lavender and citrus blossom. An elegant structure brings forward hints of passion fruit and guava. Traces of freshly muddled ginger tone nuanced notes of tart, white peach. A cheese-friendly acidity introduces the wine’s delicate finish.

Vintage Notes

With minimal rain over the winter, the vines were awakened with moderate, spring-time temperatures in early 2020. The warm, consistent conditions continued through the growing season, eliminating any frost threat and providing an ideal environment for fruit set. Veraison, when the grapes begin to soften and gain color, began 7-10 days early due to the warm, dry conditions. Throughout the summer months moderate daytime temperatures, cool nights and a few short-lived heat spikes contributed excellent flavor development. Harvest picking began in late August with much of it completed before the local fires made an impact in late Fall.

Vineyard Notes

Each of the grape varieties for this classic Rhone-inspired blend come 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 Viognier were each fermented independently, undergoing slow, cool fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks. The wines were then aged in neutral French oak barrels for seven months before blending and bottling.