Style

This vintage expresses an unusual confluence of a hot growing season with the normally cool Avenius vineyard site. This wine is full bodied, dense, focused and concentrated. Aromas have a floral, tropical pungency. A rich mid palate weight is atypical of Avenius Sauvignon Blanc, but there is enough acidity to freshen up the finish.

Food Pairings

This richer than normal Sauvignon Blanc would go nicely with lemon thyme roasted chicken, poached salmon, or pork lo mein.

Vineyard

Avenius Vineyard is owned and operated by Shari Avenius, who is also Linden Vineyard’s director. It is located on the Blue Ridge one half mile north of the winery at an elevation of 1,300 feet on a steep northeast facing slope. Soils are well-drained rocky greenstone and shale. The vines were planted in 1996 and are trained on the French lyre trellising system. Clone is unknown. Yields in 2019 were a low 1.5 tons per acre or 20 hl/H. Over the last four years much effort has been made to get these older vines back in balance. Changes in pruning, cropping, manuring, and tilling have given us encouraging results.

Vintage

2019 was a very hot and dry vintage. Bud break in late April was normal and consistent. A warm, wet May stimulated rapid shoot growth. July started a long hot dry period, which would last until harvest was over. There remained ample moisture in the ground, so vines did not slow their vegetative cycle until early August (right on time for véraison). A hot, dry August accelerated ripening.

An early harvest began on September 8. The crop was in excellent shape with good flavors. The only concern was with low acids caused by hot days and warm nights.

Winemaking

The focus of making Avenius Sauvignon Blanc is to showcase textural density and complexity that comes from the Avenius site. Retaining varietal character is not a goal. Terroir trumps variety. The chilled grapes are sorted, destemmed, lightly crushed and pressed and then the juice is allowed to settle overnight. VL3 yeast starts fermentation immediately. The wine fermented for about 30 days at 68F (20C) in old 500 liter puncheons. The wine was aged on lees for 10 months. Bottled in August 2020. Alcohol is 14.2%. 1,322 bottles produced.

Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2019 Vintage | 2019 Avenius Sauvignon Blanc