Shannon Ridge is located in California’s Lake County, which is a hard place to make wine. Not because great wine can’t be made, but because it’s always in the (metaphorical) shadow of its closest neighbor: Napa Valley. I’ve reviewed two other Shannon Ridge wines in the past decade: their Single Vineyard Tempranillo and the Wrangler Red. Both were rated in the low 90’s.
This is the style of Sauvignon Blanc that only a Cali winemaker can accomplish. Stylistically, it’s somewhere between a high-end Bordeaux Blanc and a New Zealander. On the nose, there is quince, buttered herbs, and spring flowers. The palate is texturally rich and slightly decadent, although the fresh acidity opens up in the mid-palate. The finish hints at tomato leaf and bay leaf and progresses into zesty grapefruit.