1997 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County
Vintage
1997
Price
$10
Release Date
January 1998
Appellation
Sonoma County
Availability
Select Markets Nationally
Vineyards
- Alexander Valley - Wasson, Big Oak and Mesa
- Paso Robles - French Camp
- Dry Creek - Sandhu
- Russian River - Santa Rosa Junior College
- Carneros - Hi Vista
- Sonoma Mountain - Benziger Family
Grapes
- 95% Sauvignon Blanc
- 3% Chardonnay
- 2% Semillon
Vintage
The 1997 vintage was a good one for Benziger's Fumé Blanc because it was an early harvest, between August 25 and September 23, with large yields. Benziger prefers the crisp clean character that results from an early harvest, and the large yields allowed Benziger to be particularly selective about the fruit they chose to vinify.
Vinification
The grapes for this wine grew on four-to-24-year-old vines selected from 20 blocks in eight vineyards. Twenty percent of the grapes were barrel-fermented in new, one, and two year old American oak barrels; 80% was tank fermented in stainless steel. None of the wines underwent malolactic fermentation, and the entirety of the final blend was aged for four weeks in French and American oak. The wine was bottled in March, 1998. Alcohol 13.6%, total acidity .54, pH 3.44, residual sugar .12. 30,000 cases produced.
Tasting Notes
This wine has aromas of bright apple and melon with herbal notes, and has fruity herbal flavors in the mouth with a clean, crisp acidity. It is complex from its diverse origins, and has substantial backbone from non-malolactic fermentation. Best enjoyed now or over the next year, especially with summer salads, grilled chicken, soups, or by itself.