2007 was a good year in Casablanca. Yields were down, and the harvest was about a week early thanks to an early start to the growing season, nearly ideal ripening weather, and small crops. Pretty much all the wines—red and white—were incredibly concentrated from the very beginning. In fact, the Sauvignon Blanc was so intense early on that we worried that it wouldn’t develop into something approachable. Fortunately, after about 3 months in the stainless barrels, the wine blossomed into the most flavorful Cariblanco we’ve had the pleasure of offering to date.

The 2007 has the same vibrant lemon peel and grapefruit notes as the 2006 but with a little blossomy sweetness, as well, in the aromas. Our Sauvignon Blanc fruit always has a mineral note which, as a California winemaker, I find very intriguing (it being difficult to find minerality in Californian Sauvignon Blanc). On the palate, it’s quite rich and voluptuous, with mouthwatering acidity that keeps things lively. I am not one prone to hyperbole, but this could well be the definitive expression of Sauvignon Blanc from our vineyard.