Tasting Notes

Our Alpha Mare is a 100% barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc, the 2018 vintage bottling shows spicy florals, ripe stone fruit, and attractive mineral flintiness on the nose. Once in the mouth, these characters are joined by lifted, delicate and complex notions of melon and fig. The beautiful arc is grounded by a fleshy roundness and warmth with a lovely mid-palate retention resolving into a clean finish with notes of tangerine and lime. This complex cellar-worthy wine will seamlessly carry you from aperitif through your entire meal.

For printable winemaker notes, head to our winemaker notes page

Vintage Notes

2018 was a dreamy vintage. Steady rains through the winter gave the soil time to absorb the nourishing moisture. Spring temperatures were right on target with reliable temperatures during bud break and bloom, paving the way for a larger-than-average yield. Our warm summer temperatures peaked in July, with only one day exceeding 100F. Our ripening months, August and September, cooled off a bit, creating a gentle, even ripening track, free of heat storms. October continued the trend of cooling, but temps stayed above the ’70s, allowing for a near-perfect end-of-season temperature profile.

Vineyard & Winemaking Notes

Alpha Mare White was born out of our love of White Bordeaux. We source our fruit from the heart of the Coombsville AVA, in a vineyard named after the Greek goddess, Hestia. Protected by a copse of trees on one side and wild chaparral on the other, this small vineyard is located in a low-lying swale of gravelly well-drained soils. We harvest at night by hand and then press the grapes in a long slow press cycle. We worked closely with our favorite Bordelaise cooperage to create a unique barrel specifically designed to support the fruit and mouth feel of this very special wine. Our Alpha Mare White is aged “sur lie” for 18 months. During that time, it develops exceptional complexity and stability. The wine has freshness depth and grace. This complex wine has been built to last.