2021 Moraga Sauvignon Blanc 
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes 

2021 was an unusual year. The growing season began under what was still Covid restrictions and it seemed as though the vines were trying to maintain social distance. I would neither describe 2021 is being too cool or too hot. It seemed as though the vines made measured progress, at their own rate,  through the growing season and through their maturation cycle of the grapes.

Picking began on September 8th and did not end until September 21st. Being my first vintage, I did not anticipate that eight blocks within such close proximity to each other would require so much extra time between pickings. it was only with careful consideration and the desire to put the fruit first that it happened that way. I was truly stunned with the character the juices displayed at pressing, unctuous tropical, stoic citrus dominated the flavors. Firm acidity after pressing yielded to a defined palate that serves as the foundation to this wonderful wine. 

I maintained the traditional 30% new French Oak for the wine for fermentation and after fermentation ended, I used that wine to top up the remaining stainless steel drums, to good effect. It’s a practice that I used at several other wineries over my career. But, never to such marvelous results. 

This 2019 Moraga white wine should strike you as immediately familiar. With peach, melon, pineapple, and citrus peel rounded with vanilla toasty, oak, and baking spices all linked by floral character, reminiscent of honeysuckle this wine melds seamlessly into the structure provided by the acidity.

Paul Warson, Winemaker