Pedroncelli Winery

The Pedroncellis have been making Sauvignon Blanc in Dry Creek Valley for a quarter-century, so they’ve seen every fashion come and go in that time. Lately they’ve come back to a pure style that eliminates oak and lets the fruit do its own thing. The wine is 100% SB, all from Pedroncelli holdings along the east side of Dry Creek itself. Though they picked this wine on the early side, in late August, it’s plenty ripe. At the same time, it’s plenty crisp and refreshing. Sort of what you would expect from people who know what they’re doing with Sauvignon.

The aroma and flavor signature of this wine, at least at the time of this tasting, was ripe honeydew melon – a classic descriptor for California Sauvignon Blanc. There’s also some honey, cut grass and citrus in the aromas, while the flavors in your mouth open up to include lemon-lime zest, tart green apples, and cantaloupe. The acidity is just right: enough to hold the palate and keep the wine lively, but not enough to dry out a single taste bud. In the end, you can savor this as an interesting, engaging white wine or as a palate-grabbing, summertime quaffer.

Reviewed July 25, 2007 by Thom Elkjer.