2008 The Climber White

This refreshing white blend offers aromas of ripe melon, grapefruit and pear on the nose. Wonderful flavors of ripe citrus, together with a sweet bright floral mid palate make this a great food wine, while its balanced acidity carries the fruit flavors for a long finish.

Wine Spectator 87 Points "Grassy, floral notes are intense and juicy, with lemon meringue and Key lime pie notes that are ripe and tasty." Connoisseurs Guide to Wine 87 Points, Good Value "The combination of grapes in this wine lends a bit of a flowery edge to the juniper and grass scents of its main variety, and if the wine is a little on the rounded side at entry, it quickly firms up in the latter palate."

Food & Wine Magazine California's Top Wines for $15 or Less "Winemaker Sarah Gott...crafts this refreshing, grapefruity white mostly from Sauvignon Blanc, then adds other varieties — Muscat, Chardonnay, Riesling and Chenin Blanc — to contribute floral aromas and lots of intriguing depth to its flavors."

The Climber White is a unique blend of our favorite white varietals. Sauvignon Blanc sourced from Lake, Lodi and Monterey counties makes up the backbone of the wine, with clean melon, citrus, and gooseberry aromas. Muscat adds increased terpene floral aromas and richness in the mouth. Riesling adds tropical and jasmine aromas, while also giving the mouth good acidity. Chardonnay from Monterey adds a minerality and depth in the mid palate. And Chenin Blanc increases the purity and structure of the blend.

The wine is 100% stainless steel fermented and did not go through malolactic fermentation so the purity of the fruit could be enhanced. The result is classical varietal notes with a crisp, refreshing mouthfeel.

The 2008 vintage was a rollercoaster ride from bloom through harvest. The early spring bloom was affected by long spells of cold frosty mornings, and many vineyards started with significant crop loss early on. Then we had some warm days to start the growth followed by cold rain during flowering to decrease the crops even further. Because of the severe crop shortage, yields from some of our favorite sources of Sauvignon Blanc were done. We were able to branch out further into Lake, Monterey and Mendocino counties and the grapes from these regions were amazing quality with great concentration.