2019 Sidebar Sauvignon Blanc

2019 Sidebar Sauvignon Blanc

2019 Sidebar Sauvignon Blanc

Wine Advocate 90
“The nose of the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc is gregarious with gooseberries, white peaches, fresh herbs and lychee. The palate is light-bodied, bright and crisp with fresh fruit flavors and lifted acidity, finishing clean. 1,716 cases produced.”

The Wine
From Brassfield Vineyard in High Valley of Lake County, this is a unique vineyard with gravelly-sandy loam soil at 1,800 feet of elevation. It is one of the coolest microclimates in Lake County, allowing for prolonged hangtime and excellent acidity. The vines are a combination of Sauvignon Musque, Clone 530, and Clone 1, between 10 and 15 years old. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed and fermented with native yeast in a mixture of stainless steel and old oak barrels with no ML, then aged sur lie for four months in 60 neutral oak and 40 stainless steel barrels.

Grown at an elevation of 1,800 feet, this Sauvignon Blanc shows classic varietal character without exaggeration.

Vintage Notes
2019 began with a very wet winter, replenishing the ground water after several years of drought. A late summer heat spell accelerated ripening in many viticultural areas but had minimal impact in Lake County. Fruit was at optimal maturity and picked just a few days later than in previous years. The quality was exceptional, with well-preserved acid and varietal expression.

Winemaking
Whole cluster pressed, native yeast, non-ML, in a mixture of neutral oak barrels and stainless steel. Sur lies aged for eight months in 48 stainless steel barrels, 45 neutral oak, and 7 in concrete eggs. Lightly fined. Bottled without filtration.

The Winery
Sidebar means the bar adjacent to the main bar or the sidelight of a main story. It is the B-Side to David Ramey’s Greatest Hits album.

This is a new project from David Ramey & Ramey Wine Cellars focused on fun and diverse grape varieties. Apart from the dedication to deliciousness and quality, sidebar remains distinct from Ramey in its varieties and tempo, to be considered under a different set of values. Sidebar wines are invitingly fresh and satisfying in their youth: brightness is key. These wines also play into David Ramey’s history with Sauvignon Blanc as the flagship. David made some of the most well-known Sauvignon Blanc in California’s history at Matanzas Creek and Chalk Hill back in the 80s and 90s.