This week I covered California Sauvignon Blanc in my monthly tasting column for Jancis Robinson. In service of that, I tasted around 150 Sauvignon Blancs from Napa and Sonoma. I selected roughly 40 of them to feature in my column for Jancis, but there were certainly more than that would be worth your time if you were a fan of this variety (along with millions of others these days, apparently).

As long as you could afford it.

Sauvignon Blanc has long been known as a “cash flow” wine by most California producers. You harvest it, ferment it, settle it in a tank, bottle it, and have it ready for sale in the spring following the harvest. Sometimes long before your red wines have even completed their malolactic fermentations. The sale of those bottles in the spring gives you money to buy barrels, pay your workers, and even purchase fruit for the next harvest, something your Pinot won’t do for 18 months or your Cabernet for sometimes more than 2 years.

This has changed a bit in recent years as the Graves style of Sauvignon Blanc has become more popular (especially in Napa), with producers barrel-fermenting and barrel-aging their wines sometimes for up to 18 months. Invariably (and understandably) these wines have also become more expensive than their tank-aged brethren.

That said, the average prices of all Sauvignon Blanc wines have climbed significantly in the last decade or two. The average price of the wines I reviewed below is more than $41 per bottle. Gone are the days when you could get a nice bottle of California Sauvignon Blanc from a boutique producer for $15 or $20. Now you’ll often pay north of $40, and occasionally more than $100.

Frankly, those are ridiculous prices, even acknowledging the extra cost required for the barrels and aging time, as well as the escalating costs of labor and grapes in California. I don’t mean to imply that producers are somehow gouging consumers (though I’m sure more than a few are making a tidy profit off these wines) but only that in this globalized world California Sauvignon Blanc now has to compete with bottles from Chile, South Africa, New Zealand, France, Italy, and more, the vast majority of which can be purchased for under $30.

California producers now run the distinct risk of pricing themselves out of the market for the purpose that this grape variety seems to serve for most people: something pleasurable, fresh, and easy to drink shortly after purchasing the bottle. As the French would say, these wines are most certainly vin de soif, rather than vin de garde.

Other than brand prestige, there’s not much to justify paying $120 for a wine that’s the same quality as one that costs $16. Yes that’s harsh, but it needs to be said.

I realize it’s easy for me to sit here on the sidelines and tell the wine industry that it needs to make cheaper wines in an age where inflation, lingering supply-chain issues, real estate, insurance, labor, regulations, and even recycling fees all contribute to the rising cost-of-goods-sold. But I honestly believe that vanishingly few wine consumers want to pay $40-60 for a bottle of California Sauvignon Blanc no matter how delicious it is.

I know I certainly don’t.

This sense is made all the more acute as you browse through the wines rated below. I’ve got 33 wines that I’m rating betwen 8.5 and 9 on my ten point scale. The cheapest is $16, the most expensive is $119. Other than brand prestige, there’s not much to justify paying $120 for a wine that’s the same quality as one that costs $16.

Yes that’s harsh, but it needs to be said.

These wines are (by and large) not profound expressions of terroir. They are not wines that will improve for decades in your cellar. These wines (other than that insane Screaming Eagle bottling) are not investment-grade with a secondary market value. They are (hopefully) refreshing bits of California sunshine captured in a bottle that should put a smile on your face.

That’s worth something, for sure, but not as much as many people are charging these days.

Tasting Notes

Wines With a Score Between 8.5 and 9

2021 Alpha Omega “Hudson Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc, Carneros, Napa, California
Palest greenish gold in the glass, near colorless, this wine smells of vanilla, toasted pastry, and lemon pith. In the mouth, lemon curd, vanilla pastry cream, grapefruit, and a hint of green apple skin have a silky texture and bright acidity. Fades slightly on the finish. 13.4% alcohol. $119. click to buy.

2021 Arrow & Branch “Heritage” Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Pale greenish gold in color, this wine smells of lemon curd, sweet oak, and vanilla. In the mouth, extremely bright flavors of lemon and apple skin are somewhat overshadowed by the flavors of oak, which linger with lemon zest and lime zest in the finish. With less oak influence this could have been even better. 14.1% alcohol. $50. click to buy.

2022 AXR Napa Valley “Ganzin” Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of green apple and a tiny hint of green bell pepper. In the mouth, bright green apple and cut grass mix with a touch of bell pepper and a nice white floral component. Excellent acidity and length. 13.9% alcohol. $27. click to buy.

2022 Balletto Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon curd, golden apples, and warm hay. In the mouth, bright lemon pith and grapefruit flavors mix with golden apples. Nice texture and very good acidity. Ages for 6 months in neutral French oak. Certified sustainable farming. 13.1% alcohol. $19. click to buy.

2022 Battuello Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, St. Helena, Napa, California
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of passionfruit and white peaches. In the mouth, passionfruit and white peach flavors are bright with juicy acidity. Light lemon pith notes linger in the finish. Very aromatic, partially thanks to what appears to be late picking. Closed with a screwcap. 14.8% alcohol. $35. click to buy.

2022 Boeschen Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of green apple, lime, and lemon. In the mouth, bright green apple and lime zest flavors have a crisp brightness to them thanks to excellent acidity. Zippy and clean, with a nice underlying minerality. 14.5% alcohol. $60.

2022 Bricoleur “Kick Ranch Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc, Fountaingrove District, Sonoma, California
Pale gold in color, this wine smells of lemon pith and honey. In the mouth, bright lemon pith, lemon zest, and unripe apple flavors have a brisk stony brightness and excellent acidity. Notes of grapefruit linger in the finish. Whole-cluster pressed and settled for 2 days before fermentation was begun in stainless steel. 15% of the wine was transferred to neutral French oak to complete fermentation. 6 months of sur-lie aging before bottling. 657 cases made. Closed with a screwcap. 13.9% alcohol. $36. click to buy.

2022 Calluna “Estate Blanc” Sauvignon Blanc, Chalk Hill, Sonoma, California
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of candied green apples and passionfruit. In the mouth, bright green apple and lime zest flavors have a lean chalky quality and bright acidity. Stony, wet pavement notes linger in the finish along with lime zest. Contains 15% Semillon. Barrel fermented and barrel-aged mostly in neutral French oak, with only about 10% news. Malolactic inhibited. Aged for 6 months before bottling. 768 cases made. 13.3% alcohol. $30. click to buy.

2022 Clif Family Winery Sauvignon Blanc, Oak Knoll District, Napa, California
Near colorless in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, pears, and green apples. In the mouth, green apple and lime juice have a brightness to them thanks to excellent acidity. There’s a bit of bitter lime zest lingering in the finish. Certified organic grapes. A blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Musque clones. Aged for 6 months in French oak, of which 10% is new. 893 cases made. 13.9% alcohol. $40. click to buy.

2022 Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Palest greenish gold in color, this wine smells of vanilla, white flowers, and candied green apple. In the mouth, vanilla pastry cream, green apple, and lime flavors have a bright chalkiness thanks to excellent acidity. Notes of vanilla and lime pith linger in the finish. 13.6% alcohol. $30. click to buy.

2022 Covenant Wines “Solomon Blanc” Sauvignon Blanc, Bennett Valley, Sonoma, California
Pale greenish gold in color, this wine smells of lemon curd, lemon zest, and apples. In the mouth, bright lemon juice, lemon zest, and pink grapefruit flavors have a juicy brightness to them, as well as a chalky grip. Hints of sawdust linger with the citrus in the finish. Fermented with native yeasts and aged in French oak. Kosher for Passover. Non-mevushal. Vegan. Comes in a nasty heavy bottle weighing 1.55 kg when full. 13.4% alcohol. $75.

2022 Crosby Roamann Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of struck match, lemon peel, and grapefruit. In the mouth, bright lemon peel and grapefruit flavors mix with a hint of green apple skin. There’s a faint bitterness in the finish. 14% alcohol. $25. click to buy.

2022 Dry Creek Vineyard “DCV3” Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, California
Near colorless in the glass with just a hint of greenish gold, this wine smells of lime pith and green apple skin with a touch of white flowers. In the mouth, green apple, lime pith, and white flowers have a wonderful brightness and just a hint of green bell pepper that adds a savory note as the wine finishes. Excellent acidity. Fermented and aged in stainless steel. 875 cases made. 12.8% alcohol. $32. click to buy.

2022 Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc, North Coast, California
Palest greenish gold, near colorless in the glass, this wine smells of cut grass, green apples, and star fruit. In the mouth, star fruit, green apple, and pear flavors have a nice green brightness and excellent acidity. A light chalky sensation lingers in the finish. Fruit sources are 48% Sonoma County, 36% Napa Valley, 10% Lake County, and 6% Mendocino County. Fermented and aged in a combination of 93% stainless steel and 8% new French oak. Contains a 9.5% Sémillon. Aged for 5 months sur lie before bottling. Closed with a screwcap. 14.1% alcohol. $28. click to buy.

2020 Eco Terreno “Lantana” Sauvignon Blanc, Alexander Valley, Sonoma, California
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers and honey. In the mouth, juicy green apple and Asian pear flavors have a nice floral complexion and a hint of sweetness to them. Decent acidity and a nice faint minerality. Contains 13% Sauvignon Gris. Fermented in a combination of stainless and barrels, and then aged for 4 months in neutral oak. Demeter-certified Biodynamic. 13.9% alcohol. 238 cases made. $40. click to buy.

2022 Eleven Eleven “Beckstoffer Melrose Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Napa, California
Pale greenish gold in color, this wine smells of vanilla, lemon, and grapefruit. In the mouth, extremely bright and juicy acidity brings flavors of lemon and pink grapefruit to life, vibrating on the palate with hints of sweet oak and green apple skin lingering in the finish. 13.7% alcohol. $45.

2022 Elizabeth Spencer Winery “Special Cuvée” Sauvignon Blanc, North Coast, California
Palest gold in the glass, near colorless, this wine smells of grapefruit, lemon pith, and unripe apples. In the mouth, bright lemon and grapefruit flavors mix with unripe apple and a hint of dried yellow herbs. Excellent acidity. Closed with a screwcap. 13% alcohol. $20. click to buy.

2022 Enkidu Wines Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma, California
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of golden apples, roasted nuts, and lemon pith. In the mouth, lemon pith and lemon peel have a nutty and herbal quality, as excellent acidity kicks the salivary glands into overdrive. Unusual in character, but quite tasty, with that nutty quality lingering in the finish. Whole-cluster pressed and inoculated in stainless steel tanks. After fermentation began the wine was transferred to French oak puncheons of which 25% were new. Battonage twice weekly until February, and then monthly. Malolactic inhibited. Spends roughly 8 months in barrel before bottling. 13.5% alcohol. 128 cases made. $24. click to buy.

2022 Gibbs “Centa Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc, St. Helena, Napa, California
Palest greenish gold in color, this wine smells of grapefruit pith and green apples. In the mouth, green apple and lime zest mix with lemon pith and lime juice. Bright and zesty. With excellent acidity and a light grippy texture. Free-run juice is fermented in stainless, while press juice is fermented in a neutral French oak barrel. Ages for 5 months in stainless before bottling. Closed with a screwcap. 13.9% alcohol. 386 cases made. $25. click to buy.

2022 Honig “Reserve” Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Napa, California
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, lemon peel, and pastry cream. In the mouth, green apple and lemon peel flavors mix with pink grapefruit, vanilla, and a hint of kumquat as bright, juicy acidity keeps things fresh and bright. There’s a faint chalky sensation in the finish as flavors of oak emerge. 13.8% alcohol. $37. click to buy.

2021 Jericho Canyon Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of candied green apples and kiwi fruit. In the mouth, bright green apple and lime pith flavors have a zing thanks to excellent acidity. There’s also a wet chalkboard minerality here and just a touch of alcoholic heat in the finish. 14.4% alcohol. $20. click to buy.

2022 Kenefick Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, Calistoga, Napa, California
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, honey, and lemon oil. In the mouth, bright lemon and vanilla pastry cream flavors have a nice lemon zest tang to them and excellent acidity. Clean and bright with a good balance between richness and zip. Just a touch of oak lingering in the finish. Native-yeast fermented in neutral French oak barrels, with battonage. 14.2% alcohol. $30. click to buy.

2022 Kunde Family Winery “Block 4SB20” Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma, California
Palest gold in the glass with a hint of green, this wine smells of golden apples and lemon zest. In the mouth, bright lemony apple flavors mix with pink grapefruit as excellent acidity keeps things bright and juicy. Zippy and bright. Fruit from 26-year-old vines fermented in stainless steel and then aged for an additional 6 months before bottling. 14.2% alcohol. $35. click to buy.

2022 Lewis Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of new oak, lemon, and green apples. In the mouth, vanilla and lemon curd flavors mix with green apple and candied lime flavors. An aromatic sweetness suffuses the finish, but the oak stays relatively subdued and lets the fruit shine. Very good acidity. 14.7% alcohol. $45. click to buy.

2022 Longboard Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon pith and lemon blossom. In the mouth, bright lemon and vanilla flavors have a nice juicy acidity and faint scent of sweet oak. Excellent brightness with a hint of salinity. 30% of the wine was fermented in older French oak barrels, the balance in stainless. Closed with a screwcap. 13.5% alcohol. $28. click to buy.

2022 Matanzas Creek Winery Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County, California
Palest greenish gold in color, this wine smells of green apple, cut grass, and passionfruit. In the mouth, bright green apple and passionfruit flavors have a nice crispness to them and a faint chalky texture as excellent acidity keeps the salivary glands flowing. Tasty. Fermented in stainless steel. Closed with a screwcap. 13.2% alcohol. $20. click to buy.

2022 Materra Sauvignon Blanc, Oak Knoll District, Napa, California
Near colorless in the glass with just a hint of gold, this wine smells of passionfruit and lemon peel. In the mouth, bright passionfruit and gooseberry flavors mix with lemon and grapefruit. Hints of vanilla and green apple emerge in the finish. Zippy and bright. 14.1% alcohol. $25. click to buy.

2022 Maxville Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Chiles Valley, Napa, California
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of apple and lemon zest and vanilla. In the mouth, bright and zippy flavors of lemon zest, lemon pith, and pink grapefruit are shot through with vanilla. Excellent acidity. Packaged in a too-heavy bottle weighing 1.54kg when full. 12.8% alcohol. $65.

2021 Patel Winery Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Napa, California
Light yellow-gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, lemon oil, and vanilla. In the mouth, rich, slightly salty flavors of lemon curd, vanilla, and oak are creamy and silky with bright acidity. Done in a richer style, but done pretty well. 120 cases made. Comes in a nasty heavy bottle weighing 1.57 kg when full. 12.8% alcohol. $65. click to buy.

2021 Robert Mondavi Winery “The Reserve Fumé Blanc – To Kalon Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc, Oakville, Napa, California
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon, candied lime, and green apple. In the mouth, green apple and lime mix with grapefruit and lemon as hints of oak emerge in the finish. Extremely high-acid, leaving a pithy chalky sensation in the finish with a hint of citrus zest bitterness. Comes in an offensively heavy bottle, weighing 1.68 kg when full. 14.5% alcohol. $85. click to buy.

2022 St. Supery “Dollarhide” Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon curd. In the mouth, passionfruit and lemon curd mix with pastry cream and grapefruit. Silky textured with excellent acidity. 16% of the wine is fermented in French oak. Sur-lie aged for 5 months before bottling. Napa Green Certified vineyard and winery. 13.5% alcohol. $38. click to buy.

2023 Taft Street Winery Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Near colorless in the glass, this wine smells of green apple, guava, and passionfruit. In the mouth bright green apple, guava candy, and passionfruit flavors have a nice brisk crispness with excellent acidity. Fermented and aged in stainless steel. Closed with a screwcap. 13.1% alcohol. $16. click to buy.

2022 Whitehall Lane Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Napa, California
Palest gold in color, this wine smells of grapefruit pith and lemon pith. In the mouth, lemon pith and grapefruit flavors mix with green apple and a hint of lime zest. Excellent acidity and brightness with a hint of chalky texture. 90% whole-cluster pressed, 10% extended skin contact. 75% fermented in stainless steel, 25% fermented in oak (15% new) with native yeasts. 15% of the wine is put through cold stabilization. Closed with a screwcap. 13.8% alcohol. $30. click to buy.

Wines With a Score Around 8.5

2020 ADAMVS “Estate” Sauvignon Blanc, Howell Mountain, Napa, California
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon curd, lime zest, and grapefruit. In the mouth, grapefruit and green apple flavors mix with lemon and lime pith as the wine offers very good bright acidity and a light chalky texture. Notes of sweet oak, just like the bottle—heavier than I would like—linger in the finish. Packaged in a nasty, heavy bottle, weighing 1.64 kg when full. 13.5% alcohol. $100.

2019 Aesthete Wines “Dry Stack Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc, Bennett Valley, Sonoma, California
Light gold in color, this wine smells of struck match and candied lemon. In the mouth, saline flavors of lemon curd, toasted oak, and roasted nuts mix with a hint of butterscotch. Rich but with enough acidity to stand up to the oak and ripeness. Also beginning to show some secondary characteristics with age. 14.4% alcohol. $85. click to buy.

2022 Amici Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Napa, California
Palest gold in color, this wine smells of white flowers, melon, and honey. In the mouth, a touch of green apple mixes with honey and lemon pith as bright acidity keeps things fresh. 14.4% alcohol. $25. click to buy.

2022 Barnett Vineyards “Andrews Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, California
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of passionfruit and vanilla. In the mouth, silky flavors of vanilla and passionfruit don’t have quite as much acidity as I would like, but are smooth and tasty. Closed with a screwcap. 13.8% alcohol. 615 cases made. $38. click to buy.

2022 Bougetz Cellars “Bliss” Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Napa, California
Pale gold in the glass with a hint of green, this wine smells of green apple and guava. In the mouth, softer, filigreed acidity lends some (but not enough) crispness to flavors of green apple and guava. Hints of lime linger in the finish. 14.3% alcohol. $30. click to buy.

2022 Clos du Val Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Near colorless, palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of sweet oak and white flowers. In the mouth, lemon and apple flavors mix with white flowers and a heavy dose of oak flavor. Lightly grippy on the palate, with very good acidity. 13.8% alcohol. $52. click to buy.

2022 Coquerel Family Wine Estates “Le Petite Coquerel – Walnut Wash Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc, Calistoga, Napa, California
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of pastry cream and golden apples. In the mouth, golden apples and crème anglaise flavors are brisk and bright with a wet chalkboard minerality behind them. 13.5% alcohol. 1200 cases made. $23. click to buy.

2021 Darioush “Sage Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of passionfruit and vanilla with a hint of sweet oak. In the mouth, bright passionfruit and green apple flavors are shot through with the faint bitterness of oak and a hint of grapefruit. Very good acidity, but the wood emerges stronger than I would like in the finish along with a little alcoholic heat. 14.9% alcohol. $65. click to buy.

2022 Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Napa, California
Palest greenish gold in color, this wine smells of green apple and cut grass. In the mouth, green apple and grassy notes mix with a hint of green bell pepper. Faintly stony, with excellent acidity, though perhaps missing a little intensity. Certified organic and dry-farmed. Fermented and aged in steel, with 10% of the wine aged in concrete eggs. 6 months of sur-lie aging before bottling. Closed with a screwcap. 11,754 cases made. 13.2% alcohol. $30. click to buy.

2022 Ghost Block “MorgaenLee Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc, Yountville, Napa, California
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon and grapefruit. In the mouth, more muted flavors of lemon and grapefruit mix with a hint of green apple as softer acidity brightens things a bit. More on the subtle side. Barrel-aged sur-lie for 9 months. 13% alcohol. 1700 cases made. $27. click to buy.

2022 Grand Napa Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Spring Mountain District, Napa, California
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of vanilla, green apple, and grapefruit. In the mouth, excellent acidity makes flavors of lemon peel, green apple, and pink grapefruit quite lively as notes of oak emerge to dominate the finish. 13.2% alcohol. $55. click to buy.

2021 Ink Grade Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon pith and vanilla. In the mouth, silky flavors of lemon curd, lemon pith, and pastry cream mix with a hint of green apple skin. Softer perception of acidity than I would like, despite the very low alcohol. Vines planted in 1996. Comes in a needlessly heavy bottle weighing 1.56 kg when full. 12.5% alcohol. $67. click to buy.

2022 La Crema Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County, California
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of green apple and cut grass with a hint of white peaches. In the mouth, apple and peach flavors mix with lemon pith and peel. Decent acidity. Closed with a screwcap. 13.5% alcohol. $20. click to buy.

2021 Lasseter Family Winery “Trinity Ridge Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc, Moon Mountain District, Sonoma, California
Palest gold in color, this wine smells of vanilla, white flowers, and lemon pith. In the mouth, lemon and vanilla flavors have a faint herbal bitterness to them along with very good acidity. That bitterness lingers in the finish. 120 cases made. 13.5% alcohol. $60. click to buy.

2022 Markham Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of golden apple and faintly of struck match. In the mouth, flavors of vanilla, pastry cream, and lemon juice have a nice briskness to them thanks to excellent acidity. There’s a light grip to the wine and a hint of apple skin lingering in the finish with dried herbs. Fermented in stainless and then aged for 4 months before bottling. Closed with a screwcap. 13.8% alcohol. 7200 cases made. $24. click to buy.

2021 Mathew Bruno Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Pale gold in color, this wine smells of lemon and vanilla. In the mouth, flavors of lemon pith, vanilla, and a hint of woodiness have a clean bright quality, thanks to very good acidity. 13.4% alcohol. $38.

2022 Merriam Vineyards “Eastside Estate Fumé Blanc” Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of ripe golden apples and honey. In the mouth, zippy flavors of golden apples, lemon pith, and honey are bright with excellent acidity. There’s a faint bitterness that lingers in the finish. Spends 12 months in 40% new French oak barrels. 13.8% alcohol. 175 cases made. $42. click to buy.

2022 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of vanilla cream, grapefruit, and lemon curd. In the mouth, faintly sweet flavors of vanilla, lemon curd, pink grapefruit, and a touch of candied green apple have a silky, sensuous texture. Definitely tastes sweet compared to some other wines. Comes in a needlessly heavy bottle weighing 1.58 kg when full. 14% alcohol. $51. click to buy.

2022 Modus Operandi Cellars “Dalla Gasperina Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Napa, California
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of white peach and vanilla. In the mouth, pastry cream and lemon pith mix with a hint of green apple and grapefruit. Nice salinity lingering in the finish to counterpoint an aromatic sweetness (some no doubt from the prodigious alcohol). Closed with a glass stopper. 14.9% alcohol. 200 cases made. $45.

2022 Pope Valley Winery “1897 Reserve” Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Palest greenish gold in color, this wine smells of lemon and grapefruit. In the mouth, lemony grapefruit flavors are shot through with a hint of candied green apple. There’s a faint sweetness that lingers in the finish, along with a touch of heat. 13.6% alcohol. $34. click to buy.

2022 Rutherford Hill Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Napa, California
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of candied green apple and lime zest. In the mouth, notes of vanilla merge with green apple, guava, and candied lime peel. Bright and juicy, but with oak beginning to stick out in the finish. Whole-cluster-pressed. 70% of the wine was barrel-aged in 30% new French oak. Napa Green certified winery. 14.2% alcohol. $30. click to buy.

2022 Textbook Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon and grapefruit pith. In the mouth, lemon pith and lemon juice flavors are clean and bright but without as much zip as I would like. Ends up slightly flat in the mouth. 94% is tank fermented with the remaining 6% fermented in neutral barrels with frequent battonage. Ages for 5 months in neutral French oak. Closed with a screwcap. 14% alcohol. 1615 cases made. $20. click to buy.

Featured image of some of the flavors of Sauvignon Blanc created with the help of MidJourney AI.