On the nose yellow peach, basil and guava are readily apparent. The palate unveils an invigoratingly
fresh texture, alive with flavors of Bartlett pear, succulent lemongrass and crisp green apple,
accompanied by a hint of lime rind and minerality on the bright, lengthy full-flavored finish.
Grapes for the Dancing Crow Sauvignon Blanc are harvested at around 1400 ft. elevation on the western
shore of Clear Lake in Northern California’s beautiful Lake County. Over thousands of years, runoff from
the Mayacamas’ mountain range settled in this area near the shores of Clear Lake, creating vineyards
with a nutrient-rich mix of clay, gravel and alluvial loams. In the summer months, the mountain climate of
Lake County sees hot daytime temperatures; yet the vines can recover from the heat of the day, and
respire at night, due to cool coastal breezes pulled in during the evening by the vast size of Clear Lake.
This unique combination of elevation, nutrient-rich soil, and hot days & cool nights produces ideal
conditions for a true expression of the Sauvignon Blanc varietal at 12 – 12.5% alcohol.
After pressing the grapes, our winemaking team of David, Katharine and Jason
let the juice settle for three days at between 53-55°F before being racked for
fermentation. We utilize three yeast strains in separate fermentations with
particular focus on developing aromatics, richness and mouthfeel. Cold fermentation and lees stirring are
employed to further the process by adding length and texture, in addition to enhancing innate floral and
fruit aromas. In the style of Sancerre, our winemaking focuses on showcasing the crisp and aromatic
side of Sauvignon Blanc, with particular attention to the well-defined expression of the grape’s citrus,
stone fruit and pome fruit flavors with a bright, refreshing acidity and hint of minerality
On the nose yellow peach, basil and guava are readily apparent. The palate unveils an invigoratingly
fresh texture, alive with flavors of Bartlett pear, succulent lemongrass and crisp green apple,
accompanied by a hint of lime rind and minerality on the bright, lengthy full-flavored finish.
The 2022 Lake County Sauvignon Blanc vintage is showing off exceptional quality and intensity of flavors, highlighting the outstanding potential of this wine. Spring growing conditions, in our high-elevation region, prompted bud break a week earlier than average. While our fruit set was slightly decreased, the grapes demonstrated beautifully complex and concentrated flavor profiles. Harvest began on August 9th during ideal temperatures, with sugars within our typical range of 19 – 21 Brix. Once the fruit started coming in, it was clear that the overall quality was extremely high. Although, low winter rainfall contributed to a lighter-than-average crop, the loosely-bunched clusters, facilitated steady ripening, which in turn led to particularly balanced and flavorful grape characteristics. The 2021 vintage will be remembered for the degree of concentration observed in the fruit, producing flavorful wines, that will continue to develop additional complexity over time.
