2021 Hardscrabble Sauvignon Blanc
Style
The aroma is classic Old World Sauvignon Blanc with wet stone, pith and citrus zest. On the palate Semillon tames the wildness of Sauvignon Blanc by contributing a bit more layered and harmonious texture.
Food Pairings
This classically proportioned wine is food versatile. Fish and shellfish, goat cheese and salads. Milder and herbaceous Asian cuisines.
Vineyard
Both Hardscrabble Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are planted 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
Spring came in gently and predictably. A cold February was followed by a dry, mild March. Bud break was in late April, right on time. May did not follow suit as hail on May 7 damaged some emerging shoots. Fortunately the damage was mostly cosmetic to only the base of the shoots as the clusters had not yet unfolded.
May was dry as was June and July. This made for a good crop (excellent pollination conditions) with small berries (water stressed vines), but young vines were beginning to show signs of excessive water stress (stunted growth and yellowing basal leaves).
Veraison began in late July under ideal conditions: hot and dry. Color change was quick and uniform setting the stage for high quality. Mid-August presented a big shift with humid, wet nights and frequent quick, hard showers. This slowed the ripening process and elevated disease pressure. Semillon was picked September 8 and Sauvignon Blanc the next day.
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 72F (22C) in old puncheons and barrels. The wine was aged on lees for 10 months. 84% Sauvignon Blanc and 16% Semillon. Bottled in August 2022. Alcohol is 12.7%. 1,860 bottles produced. Drink 2023 through 2025.
Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2021 Vintage | 2021 Hardscrabble Sauvignon Blanc