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Wine Recommendation
Gann Family Cellars
2004 Sauvignon Blanc, Spring Hill Vineyard(Alexander Valley)
Gretchen and Michael Gann Schmahl own the Gann Family Vineyard, a 110 acre estate overlapping both Alexander and Russian River Valleys. Two miles from Healdsburg, bordered on the west by Fitch Mountain and the east by the Russian River, the cool foggy mornings and warm sunny afternoons here provide ideal conditions for high quality Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Zinfandel.
Winemaker Chris Knedel, Gretchen's brother, worked at Chappellet, Sebastiani, La Famiglia di Robert Mondavi and Fritz before joining the family business.
This Sauvignon Blanc, originally planted in 1978, is grown on the alluvial clays, gravel, and sandy loam of the Spring Hill Vineyard. It is 100% Sauvignon Blanc fruit and does not undergo any secondary malolactic fermentation.
Bright straw yellow with golden highlights, this medium bodied wine is brisk and invigorating with notes of bosc pear, cantaloupe, lemon zest, pine needle and hay. Vivacious natural acidity really shines through on the long, clean finish. This style of Sauvignon Blanc is very much in the mold of a Sancerre or Pouilly Fumé from France’s Loire Valley, and is ideal as an aperitif, or, with a splash of crème de cassis, enjoyed as a Kir.
Reviewed November 30, 2006 by Catherine Fallis.
Other Awards & Accolades
"Best of Class" and Gold Medal - 2005 Los Angeles County Fair
Gold Medal - 2006 Critics Challenge
Silver Medal - 2006 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Silver Medal - 2005 Grand Harvest Awards
Silver Medal - 2006 North of the Gate Wine Competition
Other reviewed wines from Gann Family Cellars
The Wine
Winery: Gann Family Cellars |
The Reviewer
Catherine Fallis
Founder and President of Planet Grape LLC, a company committed to bringing the joy of wine, food, and good living into the lives of everyday people, Catherine is creator of the “grape goddess guides to good living,” a series of books, television presentations, seminars, and e-learning programs. The fifth woman in the world to become a Master Sommelier, grape goddess Catherine Fallis is still very much down-to-earth. |