Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022
Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | All varietal brought up in tank, the 2022 Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc has bright citrus and lemon notes in its medium-bodied, vibrant, lively and focused style. It's incredibly well-balanced and has a classic style with tons to love.
James Suckling 91 Points | This is fresh and texture...Show More >
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022
Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | All varietal brought up in tank, the 2022 Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc has bright citrus and lemon notes in its medium-bodied, vibrant, lively and focused style. It's incredibly well-balanced and has a classic style with tons to love.
James Suckling 91 Points | This is fresh and textured, with bright layers of sliced apples, fresh pears, chopped herbs and wet stones. Medium-bodied, clean and creamy, with tension.
Wine Spectator 91 Points | Crisp and multilayered, with lilting flavors of apricot, white blossom and lemongrass that sail on a brisk finish.
The Wine Advocate 90 Points | The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc exhibits a classic and focused expression, with citrus aromas taking the forefront. Medium-bodied, the palate is clean and fleshy, featuring a kiss of spice and citrus notes. The finish is food friendly, offering a balanced and finessed expression of Sauvignon Bla
Vinous 90 Points | The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Columbia Valley lifts from the glass. It’s incredibly fresh, with a sweet herbal tinge that gives way to candied lime and hints of fermented ginger. Luxuriously round and soothing, with a core of mineral-tinged green melon guided by zesty acidity, the 2022 finishes steely clean. A minty sheen lingers on and on. This crisp beauty was refined in all stainless steel.
Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | Cue up the yacht rock because it is Sauvignon Blanc boat drinks for everybody. With a creamy texture and crisp acidity, this wine delivers tropical aromas and flavors of lime, guava, lychee and a Pina Colada one-two punch of coconut and pineapple. Ultimate fun and refreshment.
Winemaker Description
2022 was a near ideal vintage for Sauvignon Blanc. Along with Yakima Valley, this is our first vintage sourcing several Sauvignon Blanc clones from Horse Heaven Hills, and represents our latest harvest date on record for our Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc. The new winemaking team worked with our vineyard managers to update our viticultural practices, reducing yields (on average) by 30% for each site.
All three vineyard sites were picked in the early morning light on October 7th, 2022. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes were whole cluster pressed under a blanket of protective CO2 and the juice was delivered into tank. It was then cold settled for 24 hours before being fermented in 100% stainless steel tanks. Fermentation techniques were selected individually for each vineyard to help accentuate the fruit and typicity from each location. Primary fermentation was slow and cool, allowing the wine to hold onto its intense aromatic profile. Aged in stainless steel and small parts neutral oak for 5 months. Secondary fermentation was arrested to preserve freshness and acidity and the wine was blended shortly before bottling. The wine was bottled on March 28th, 2023. Only 4510 cases were made.
Two separate clones were included in the final blend (Sauvignon Blanc: 1, Gist).
TASTING NOTES
The 2022 Matthews Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc is yellow jasmine in color with flecks of green. Intense aromatics of starfruit, lemony sorrel leaf, juicy green pear and mandarin orange open to honeysuckle and linden flower. Followed by flavors of lemon curd, oyster shell, candied orange peel and flint, this medium bodied, balanced wine has refreshing acidity. It finishes long with briney and stoney flavors that are taught and textural.
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