CALIFORNIA
SAUVIGNON BLANC
94 Ehlers Estate 2020 Sauvignon Blanc (St. Helena). This elegant white was aged in stainless steel, neutral French oak and concrete egg, with just a hint of newer oak. Juicy in pear, lime and wet stone, it offers well-integrated acidity and brightness throughout, with a slate-like texture and hints of baking spice and herb. —V.B.
abv: 13.4% Price: $36
94 Grieve 2018 Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley). From a 60-acre estate in the Lovall Valley, this white is made by the team at Atelier Melka and 100% varietal, given 17 months in new French oak and concrete egg. Fresh in peach and candied ginger, it shows lovely, well-integrated acidity and impressive texture, with length and brightness throughout. —V.B.
abv: 14.2% Price: $90
94 Rusack 2017 Icon Musque Clone Sauvignon Blanc (Ballard Canyon). There’s a stunning concentration of fresh and dried aromas on the nose of this clonal showcase, which spent 11 months in French oak, including citrus pith, petrol, jasmine and mango. The rich mouthfeel delivers cherimoya, mango-custard and guava-peel flavors, all set atop a creamy texture with tingling acidity lingering in the background through the finish. —M.K.
abv: 14.2% Price: $75
93 Quivira 2019 Alder Grove Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (Dry Creek Valley). Blended with 23% Sémillon, this is a textured and complex wine, high-toned in edgy acidity. The flavors combine effortlessly along a palate of cohesive grace and grip, tasting of grapefruit and pomelo. —V.B.
abv: 13.7% Price: $27
93 Quivira 2019 Q Collection Wine Creek Ranch Sauvignon Blanc (Dry Creek Valley). Fig, lemon rind, green apple and pomelo fruit accent this high-toned, complex wine from the producer’s organically farmed estate. Aged in acacia wood, it has texture and medium body weight, rounded on the midpalate with a buildup of spicy lemongrass. —V.B.
abv: 14.2% Price: $32
92 Dry Creek Vineyard 2020 Sauvignon Blanc (Dry Creek Valley). For full review see page 118. Editors’ Choice.
abv: 13.5% Price: $20
92 Mauritson 2020 Sauvignon Blanc (Dry Creek Valley). For full review see page 119.
abv: 13.75% Price: $28
92 Navarro 2020 Cuvée 128 Sauvignon Blanc (Anderson Valley). This attractive, complex, aged-on-the-lees wine shows wonderful toast and ginger aromas, excellent balance and good, crisp lemon, and Gravenstein apple flavors. It’s a beautiful, cool-climate wine. Editors’ Choice. —J.G.
abv: 24% Price: $24
92 Smith Story 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma County). For full review see page 121. —V.B.
abv: 13% Price: $30
91 A. Toraño 2020 Kick Ranch Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma County). Light, floral and earthy, this medium-bodied white offers good midpalate weight and breadth, with a tension of acidity. Pear, vanilla bean and a hint of peach round out the flavor profile, finishing in a kick of lime. —V.B.
abv: 13.9% Price: $30
Aromatic with freshly cut grass, white flower and oyster shell, this is a lovely white made from certified-organic grapes. Tart and stony in texture, it offers lithe layers of white fig, green apple and melon, with a finishing touch
