Lail Vineyards
Georgia Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Yountville, Napa Valley, California, USA
Gone too far. Much darker than the 08.
Gone too far. Much darker than the 08.
Sep 21st, 2025Amazing at this age. Fresh and toasty. Apricots.
Amazing at this age. Fresh and toasty. Apricots.
Sep 10th, 2025
Full disclosure, I really don’t embrace Sauvignon Blanc. There are 2-3 that I really like and this one tops the chart.
$175 for an SB is ridiculous, but got this on the secondary market for $75. It is really good but definitely not worth $175.
Excellent with this dish. When I remember most SB’s, they would not pair with peaches. However, this with its age shows 1/2 elegant SB & 1/2 White Burgundy. Perhaps, that is why I like it so much.
There is not the typical cat pee & heavy cut grass with this bottling.
The nose shows; stone fruits, marmalade, kiwi, pineapple flesh, lemon, lime, softly, understated cut grass, frothed whole milk w/ yellow flowers.
The palate is full, lush & little waxy like a White Burgundy. Nice viscosity. It is gorgeous. Stone fruits, marmalade, kiwi, pineapple flesh, lemon, lime, underripe cantaloupe, honeycomb, touch of caramel-butterscotch notes, softly, cream, understated cut grass, gritty chalkiness with grippy volcanic minerals, gentle, white spice, yellow flowers & white spring flowers, very, round acidity, gorgeous; tension, structure, balance & flat out elegant finish that last two-minutes and lands on white spice.
This is the better pair than the 2012 Gimonnet SC Grands Terroirs de Chardonnay.
Full disclosure, I really don’t embrace Sauvignon Blanc. There are 2-3 that I really like and this one tops the chart.
$175 for an SB is ridiculous, but got this on the secondary market for $75. It is really good but definitely not worth $175.
Excellent with this dish. When I remember most SB’s, they would not pair with peaches. However, this with its age shows 1/2 elegant SB & 1/2 White Burgundy. Perhaps, that is why I like it so much.
There is not the typical cat pee & heavy cut grass with this bottling.
The nose shows; stone fruits, marmalade, kiwi, pineapple flesh, lemon, lime, softly, understated cut grass, frothed whole milk w/ yellow flowers.
The palate is full, lush & little waxy like a White Burgundy. Nice viscosity. It is gorgeous. Stone fruits, marmalade, kiwi, pineapple flesh, lemon, lime, underripe cantaloupe, honeycomb, touch of caramel-butterscotch notes, softly, cream, understated cut grass, gritty chalkiness with grippy volcanic minerals, gentle, white spice, yellow flowers & white spring flowers, very, round acidity, gorgeous; tension, structure, balance & flat out elegant finish that last two-minutes and lands on white spice.
This is the better pair than the 2012 Gimonnet SC Grands Terroirs de Chardonnay.
I was blinded and thought it was a burgundy or Chablis, so surprised. Many types of orange, lemon, lime, chalk, pear, green apple, white chocolate, by far the best American SB I have ever had and up there with anything French. Well done!
I was blinded and thought it was a burgundy or Chablis, so surprised. Many types of orange, lemon, lime, chalk, pear, green apple, white chocolate, by far the best American SB I have ever had and up there with anything French. Well done!
Sep 4th, 2023This is a wine I’ve only had young. It has far more backbone when it’s young. After 8-9 years in bottle, it more like white burgundy with grassy notes of Sauvignon Blanc.
This is a wine I could write a novel of notes regarding.
The nose shows characteristics of; White Burgundy, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier & Sancerre. Cut grass, herbaceous notes, tropicals, stone fruits, guava, passion fruit, lichee, subtle mint, waxy candle, honeycomb notes, cream, vanillin/vanilla, gentle white spice, limestone mineral & chalkiness spearmint, camomile, spring flowers, jasmine & fields of greens.
The mouthfeel is gorgeous, voluptuous & sexy, waxy, round with beautiful viscosity. Cut grass, herbaceous notes, mix of tropical melons , stone fruits-white peach dominate, guava, passion fruit, lichee, subtle mint, waxy candle, honeycomb, marmalade, cream, vanillin/vanilla, gentle white spice, limestone mineral & chalkiness, fine & delicate crushed, limestone & sandstone minerals, burgundy volcanics, understated spearmint, shades of garden fresh green beans, hints caramelized brown sugar, melted caramel, saline quality, river stone, camomile, spring flowers, jasmine & fields of greens. Acidity is like a warm summer rain. One of the best, long, rounded, lush, ruby, extremely well knitted structure & balance finishes I’ve had & persists for minutes.
My favorite Sauvignon Blanc to date. A great climate, soil structure, terroir for Sauvignon Blanc in the right Winemakers hands.
Gorgeous wine & a steal at $69. I believe $150 a bottle & a three bottle minimum off their list. The 2012 vintage released at $120.
What a pair with the garden fresh cherries tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper, half of squeezed lemon in olive oil.
This is a wine I’ve only had young. It has far more backbone when it’s young. After 8-9 years in bottle, it more like white burgundy with grassy notes of Sauvignon Blanc.
This is a wine I could write a novel of notes regarding.
The nose shows characteristics of; White Burgundy, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier & Sancerre. Cut grass, herbaceous notes, tropicals, stone fruits, guava, passion fruit, lichee, subtle mint, waxy candle, honeycomb notes, cream, vanillin/vanilla, gentle white spice, limestone mineral & chalkiness spearmint, camomile, spring flowers, jasmine & fields of greens.
The mouthfeel is gorgeous, voluptuous & sexy, waxy, round with beautiful viscosity. Cut grass, herbaceous notes, mix of tropical melons , stone fruits-white peach dominate, guava, passion fruit, lichee, subtle mint, waxy candle, honeycomb, marmalade, cream, vanillin/vanilla, gentle white spice, limestone mineral & chalkiness, fine & delicate crushed, limestone & sandstone minerals, burgundy volcanics, understated spearmint, shades of garden fresh green beans, hints caramelized brown sugar, melted caramel, saline quality, river stone, camomile, spring flowers, jasmine & fields of greens. Acidity is like a warm summer rain. One of the best, long, rounded, lush, ruby, extremely well knitted structure & balance finishes I’ve had & persists for minutes.
My favorite Sauvignon Blanc to date. A great climate, soil structure, terroir for Sauvignon Blanc in the right Winemakers hands.
Gorgeous wine & a steal at $69. I believe $150 a bottle & a three bottle minimum off their list. The 2012 vintage released at $120.
What a pair with the garden fresh cherries tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper, half of squeezed lemon in olive oil.
This will get even better - Melka style SB - but layered with other complexities - try again in 2022
This will get even better - Melka style SB - but layered with other complexities - try again in 2022
Jul 13th, 2020
One of a handful of just exceptional SB coming out of California. Even better on day two. Recommend opening the bottles in 2022. @Mike R Yet again another bottle for his incredible collection. Thank you for sharing
One of a handful of just exceptional SB coming out of California. Even better on day two. Recommend opening the bottles in 2022. @Mike R Yet again another bottle for his incredible collection. Thank you for sharing
Jul 13th, 2020Wine Nerd Herd Thursday lunch which we like to call Sauvignon Blanc on steroids - the wines are delicious and the friendship is even better - this is usually a get rowdy event with just the gents but mixed it up a little and was a blast and definitely a little slice of Heaven
Top three for me and damn tasty
Wine Nerd Herd Thursday lunch which we like to call Sauvignon Blanc on steroids - the wines are delicious and the friendship is even better - this is usually a get rowdy event with just the gents but mixed it up a little and was a blast and definitely a little slice of Heaven
Top three for me and damn tasty
A manly gesture by @Bill Bender to offer this wine for the SB luncheon, thank you Esg. Has this clean linen and fresh cut flowers scent going on. Most impressive aspect of this wine is how young it shows. Great texture and balance. Yes please.
A manly gesture by @Bill Bender to offer this wine for the SB luncheon, thank you Esg. Has this clean linen and fresh cut flowers scent going on. Most impressive aspect of this wine is how young it shows. Great texture and balance. Yes please.
May 19th, 2019
Produced in minute quantities (roughly, one barrel), this wine comes from the TotemVineyard and gets 18 months in French oak. Looking at the specs, it shouldn’t work, but it does and it works beautifully. A bit of oak spice on the nose, with coconut, lemon curd, apple, and pear, and just enough gooseberry to emphasize the variety. All the oak cannot obscure the bright minerality that drives this wine. Medium acidity, long finish. It won’t be to everyone’s taste but it’s still a beguiling tour de force of winemaking.
Produced in minute quantities (roughly, one barrel), this wine comes from the TotemVineyard and gets 18 months in French oak. Looking at the specs, it shouldn’t work, but it does and it works beautifully. A bit of oak spice on the nose, with coconut, lemon curd, apple, and pear, and just enough gooseberry to emphasize the variety. All the oak cannot obscure the bright minerality that drives this wine. Medium acidity, long finish. It won’t be to everyone’s taste but it’s still a beguiling tour de force of winemaking.