2019 is the inaugural vintage of Hardscrabble Sauvignon Blanc. The Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon vines were planted in 2012. The first vintages from these young vines made good wine, but not to the level of a Linden single vineyard designation. The stars aligned in 2019.

Style

Classic Sauvignon Blanc nose with pithy lemon/lime zest and cut grass. The palate is chiseled, zippy and persistent with ripe kiwi flavors and bright acidity.

Food Pairings

Oysters on the half shell, cold shrimp, fresh goat cheese.

Vineyard

This Hardscrabble planting is on two distinct soils. The granite based soils produce small vines giving ripe, rich, high alcohol, wines. The more clay based Greenstone soils grow large, vigorous vines that produce zippy, herbal wines. The two are field blended at harvest.

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 was on August 29. The crop was in excellent shape with good flavors.

Winemaking

Winemaking for this wine is intentionally simple and conservative as we want to let the terroir expressed in the wine rather than winemaking techniques. 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 puncheons and barrels. The wine was aged on lees for 10 months. 88% Sauvignon Blanc and 12% Semillon. Bottled in August 2020. Alcohol is 13.5%. Drink 2021 through 2024.

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