2014 Moraga White
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2014 Moraga White This was the third year of drought in California and one of the warmest years on record. We saw a slightly early budbreak resulting from unseasonably warm weather at the beginning of March. The warm weather continued on and off, pushing vine development a little more quickly than normal until we saw a new trend with a slightly cooler-than-normal June. July re-established the accelerated pace with some added heat, until we were surprised by a cooling trend in August that re-set the time of ripening to near-normal. The added benefit of a cool August was the slow flavor development that resulted in ripe, rich fruit that retained significant acid. We almost always pick Moraga’s Sauvignon Blanc the first week of September and surprisingly, this patter followed for the 204 vintage. The fruit was gently pressed to yield delicious juice without any bitterness. The majority of the juice was fermented in stainless steel barrels, but 20% was briefly fermented in new French oak barrels, then transferred to stainless steel barrels for aging. The idea is to pick up a bit of oak tannin as a structural component without infusing the wine with any detectable oak flavors – this wine, after all, is about fruit and mineral. The wine remained on the yeast lees, which contribute richness, complexity, and length, until just prior to bottling. With a moment in the glass and a little air, magic happens. Initially just slightly shy, the aromas of this wine blossom into a beautiful potpourri of scents. The nose explodes with the floral notes of honeysuckle, jasmine and the subtly sweet scent of apple blossoms. Laced amidst the florid notes are pineapple, tangerine Bosque pear, guava, white peach, and a tinge of wet slate. Bright, energetic acidity morphs into lemon meringue, agave nectar tangerine, cherimoya, and peach. The round, unctuous texture provides a harmonious foil against the acidity the mid-palate is dominated by the sensation of sweet, ripe fruit, followed by a finish that is bracing and lengthy. We’re thrilled with this wine and we hope that you will appreciate the special place of its origin. There is no other vineyard like Moraga!
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