Toquade 2017 is the 12th vintage of a single organic, dry-farmed vineyard in Yountville, California. The vineyard is located next to the Napa River, where the soil is nutrient rich, with a good water holding capacity making it an excellent terroir for Sauvignon Blanc.
The 2017 vintage started with a heavy rainfall after 6 years of pronounced drought the Napa Valley. Due to the rain the vine canopy grew rapidly and consequently all the canopy management had to be done earlier and quicker than previous years. More rain also equates to greater soil humidity and in turn in the vine canopy. This provided a perfect environment for powdery mildew and dealing with that obstacle kept us busy until mid July.
The combination of the rain and the temperate weather at bloom pushed the vines to set a large crop. This was most definitely welcome after the shortage we experienced in 2015. Overall, the season was relatively cool, indicating excellent aroma potential for the fruit.
In the middle of August the Napa Valley endured a four day heat wave which raised the sugar content of the fruit and set the harvest date. During this spike in temperature the fruit was protectively shaded by it's large canopy of leaves. The fruit was hand harvested early on the morning of August 28, 2017.
After fermentation was complete the wine was aged for seven months on lees with a weekly bâtonage to increase the roundness and texture of the wine. It was bottled mid April 2018 and has a nice nose of guava, grape fruit. It presents with a crisp mouth feel at first, then develops into a rich and flavorful mid-palate with a long finish of tropical fruit notes. This wine can be enjoyed by itself or paired with dishes such as sushi or bruschetta. It also goes well with fish based recipes and Asian cuisine.
Production: 250 cases sold out
Haley Schandelmier
