2023 Whitehall Lane - Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley (750ml)

Whitehall Lane Winery was founded in 1979 on a 25-acre parcel in Rutherford originally planted in the 1800s, and has been owned and operated by the Leonardini family since the early 1990s. Today the estate farms roughly 140 acres of Napa Valley vineyard land, including the Leonardini Vineyard in St. Helena, under winemaker Jason Moulton. Over the decades Whitehall Lane has earned repeated recognition from Wine Spectator's year-end rankings and built a reputation for consistency across its Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc programs.

This Sauvignon Blanc is a Rutherford-designated, Bordeaux-style white blending Sauvignon Blanc with a small portion of Semillon. The 2023 growing season followed a wet winter and spring that pushed budbreak back roughly two weeks, giving the vines an even fruit set and a long, unhurried ripening period through a moderately warm summer. About three-quarters of the fruit was cool-fermented in stainless steel to preserve freshness, while the remainder underwent native-yeast fermentation in French oak barrels with several months of lees contact and stirring to build texture.

The wine shows a light gold color with aromas of citrus, lemon, and peach layered over Golden Delicious apple and a touch of brioche. On the palate, white nectarine and pomelo carry through a round, medium-bodied structure, supported by bright acidity and a long, subtly toasty finish. It pairs naturally with grilled shrimp, fresh oysters, or a tangy goat cheese salad.