
Wine Specs
Vintage
2016
Varietal
100% semillon
Appellation
Yountville
Vineyard Designation
Yount Mill
TA
5.8 g/L
pH
3.37
Aging
Drinkable upon release (Apr. 2018), but ideally hold. 10-15 years ageability
Serving Temperature
48-55° F
Label Artist
Gary Taxali
Alcohol %
11
2016 “Thanks, Semillon"
100% semillon
In Stock
$24.00 per bottle / $259.20 per case
$20.40 per bottle / $230.40 per case (Members)
Wine Profile
Vineyard Notes
The grapes for this wine come from an extraordinary vineyard found in a hiding-in-plain-sight
location, on the valley floor, just outside the township of Yountville, not far at all from a number of
storied, multiply-étoiled Michelin restaurants. Here one finds 60ish year-old, organically, dry-farmed,
head-trained Semillon vines. The alluvial soils here are deep, so even without supplemental irrigation,
they make big vines, as big as a good-sized bear, the kind you meet in your dreams. The vineyard is
owned by Andrew Hoxsey, who owns a fair bit of real estate in the neighborhood. Andrew is an utter
mensch, quixotically maintaining this old block, knowing full well that if it were planted to Cabernet
he could likely be achieving a 10x greater return on his investment. But he keeps the Semillon because
somehow it’s just worth keeping. Old-timers in the area tell me that the grapes seldom if ever achieve
more than 21 Brix (maybe 12.5% potential alcohol), and that’s just fine with me. (This wine weighs
in at just above 11%.) The acidity tends to be low, the pH elevated. All the old-fangled problems that
modern grape growers want absolutely nothing to do with. Why did I even sign up for this oddball?
I have the certainty that this is a wine, that while utterly delicious right now, will be a wine that will
repay very, very long ageing, as in 15-20 year ageing, when I expect it will evince the honeyed charms
of Very Old Semillon. For now, you get a typical waxy nose and the discreet suggestion of figs, citrus
and lanolin. What is really most remarkable about the wine is its lush, slightly oily texture, great
depth and persistence of flavor. (Somehow it reminds me a bit of the Provençal variety, Clairette, also
a quiet super-star.)
Winemaker Notes
My recommendation is to not open this bottle any time soon, or if you absolutely
must, call the winery and try to order a replacement bottle, hide it at the very bottom of your cellar
and try it again in about fifteen years.
Food Pairing Notes
Aïoli monstre—as much homemade garlicky aïoli as you can
get your hands on, with large amounts of chilled seafood for dipping. Pasta Primavera with asparagus, green peas, spring onion, green garlic & a light cream sauce. Prosciutto wrapped asparagus.
Bellwether Farms Crescenza.
Production
236 cases
Other Notes
April 2018 DEWN Release