2020 is the second 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 and 2020.

Style

The aroma is classic Sauvignon Blanc pungent lime and fresh cut grass. Wake up. This wine pops with mouthwatering, crunchy, crystalline acidity. If there was a wine appropriate for breakfast, this would be it.

Food Pairings

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

Vineyards

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 2020

Winter ended early as March warmed and quickly initiating a very early bud break. From early April to early May we were on frost alert with many close calls. May 9 (Mother’s Day) finally nipped Chardonnay and Merlot vines resulting in reduced yields.

Cooler than average April and May also slowed vine development, but a warm streak in June allowed for good flowering and berry set. A hot, dry mid-July slowed vine growth at just the right time. The vines were looking balanced and ready to put their energy into ripening at as veraison was soon to begin.

Late July gave us a few welcome rain showers that refreshed the vines, but those showers eventually became more steady rains and by mid-August the soils were close to saturated. This slowed the veraison process and pushed predicted harvest dates 7 to 10 days behind average. Smoke haze from the west coast fires filtered sunlight on some days.

Harvest was September 14 and 15. Sugars trended lower, but had very precise acidity and good balance.

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. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Bottled in August 2021. Alcohol is 12.5%. 1,530 bottles produced. Drink 2022 through 2025.

Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2020 Vintage | 2020 Hardscrabble Sauvignon Blanc