Philosophy & Terroir
The marriage of California's frontier spirit, coupled with time-honored French winemaking techniques, give depth and nuance to Captûre Wines. For our 2010 Tradition Sauvignon Blanc, we have selected grapes of exceptional quality from three distinct terroirs, Kick Ranch in the foothills of Bennett Valley, the higher-elevation Windrem Ranch in Kelseyville, and Fallen Leaf Vineyards in Sonoma. The blend of these terroirs showcases the characteristics of the Sauvignon Blanc varietal, brightness and generous acidity from the Windrem site, ripe citrus and floral notes from Kick Ranch, and rich minerality from Fallen Leaf.
Winemaking
With multi-generational experience from Château Latour, our winemaking team understands the methods behind crafting classic Bordeaux-style Sauvignon Blanc with intense fruit from hillside vineyards. Meticulous hand sorting, at a rate of less than two tons per hour, ensures that only the finest grapes are selected at their peak ripeness.
After de-stemming, the must is kept on the skins for a 12-hour cold soak in order to enhance the character of the Sauvignon Blanc. Next, the juice is gently pressed and fermented in stainless steel, which emphasizes the brilliant fruit and maintains optimum acidity. We age the wine sur lie for five months, stirring weekly to reinforce its bright fruit expression and to improve mouth-feel.
Winemaker Notes
Our 2010 Tradition Sauvignon Blanc shows a fine bouquet of white currant, gooseberries and citrus with lovely hints of pink grapefruit and Key lime. The mouth-feel is fresh, crisp and fruit forward with a nice creamy structure.
Vineyards
58% Windrem Ranch in Kelseyville. Rocky slopes at 1,400 foot elevation.
27% Kick Ranch in the foothills of the Rincon Valley. Volcanic clay soils.
15% Fallen Leaf Vineyards in Sonoma. Dark, volcanic clay and cool climate.
The three vineyards are sustainably farmed to Captûre's rigorous field specifications.
Winemaker
May-Britt and Denis Malbec
Appellation
58% Lake County, 42% Sonoma County
Composition
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Harvest Date
October 5, 8, 15 & 22, 2010
Fermentation
Stainless Steel
Ageing
5 Months On Lees, With Weekly Stirring
Bottling Date
March 2011
Case Production
985 Cases
Ratings & Reviews
Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Crisp and vibrant, displaying a blend of peach blossom, lemon meringue, honeysuckle and juicy, mouthwatering lemon flavors. Impressive for its focus and refreshing quality. Drink now. 985 cases made." –MW (Aug 31, 2011)
Wine Enthusiast Magazine:
"This twin county blend is a sophisticated Sauvignon Blanc. It shows the gooseberry tartness that Capture is known for, but not too much, with richer notes of citrus fruits and white flowers dominating. One quibble is that the wine is a little too sweet." — S.H. (8/1/2011)
92 Points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (2009 vintage):"Pale color. Aromas of Meyer lemon, fresh sage and minerals, with a sweaty nuance that reminded me of Loire sauvignon. Dense and ripe, but with firm minerality accentuating the piercing quality of the grapefruit and lemon zest flavors. Finishes brisk and long, still a bit youthfully tight. Classy and energetic wine." - Josh Raynolds (May/June '10)
90 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2009 vintage):"Capture’s 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Tradition is a welcome introduction to this estate. Displaying a French-like style with fresh herbs, flinty grapefruit, good acidity and a crisp, medium-bodied personality, it should offer pleasant delicious drinking over the next year.
These two offerings from proprietors Ben and Tara Sharp will be well-received by consumers." - Robert Parker (Feb 2011)
