Larkmead Vineyards Lillie Sauvignon Blanc

The 2022 Lillie Sauvignon Blanc opens with lime zest, lemon tart, and green apple scents leaping from the glass, leading to wafts of brine and coriander seed. The medium-bodied palate is refreshing and expressive with a zesty finish.

Aromas of sliced lemons, yellow apples, passion fruit coulis, sea spray and white pepper. The palate is light-bodied with underlying generosity and bright acidity, giving notes of Asian pears, fresh quince and minerals. Great balance and purity. Drink or hold.

This tangy, fresh and minerally wine is whole-cluster pressed and barrel fermented before aging on the lees for 10 months. Saline, citrus, lemon curd and white pepper notes are braced by good acidity and a medium body that adds a nice, dry nip to the texture. Drink or hold.

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- This 100% oak barrel fermented Clone 1 Sauvignon Blanc is a bright and beautiful effort from this exciting new vintage in the Napa Valley. Smooth and very soft texturally, the wine shows nectarine and juicy pear flavors that combine with shades of green melon on the palate. Nicely structured and balanced, this beautiful wine is already singing at the two year mark.

Notes of ripe mango, nectarines, crushed almonds, beeswax and stones. Full and textured with vivid acidity and impressive complexity and length. Crunchy stone fruit character and smooth chalkiness at the end. Drink or hold.

The 2020 ‘Lillie’ Sauvignon Blanc is a gorgeous offering by Larkmead which was stored in mostly foudre prior to bottling. Texturally this is very round and generous from this oak storage, as the wine takes on layers of toasty oak that mingle with saline drenched cantaloupe, starfruit, kiwi and copious minerals, with baking spice undertones. Complex and delicious, this has both the weight and finesse to cellar nicely for another decade. Be sure to enjoy at a warmer temperature for the full range of flavors.

Pineapple, grapefruit, apple, stone and praline on the nose. Full-bodied with fresh acidity and a compact, layered palate. Textured and subtly spiced. Drink now.

From a part of the estate planted in 2014, this white shows undeniable texture and nuanced weight, inviting one in with its floral air of jasmine and wet stone. High-toned, it offers a crispness of key lime, papaya and passion fruit, with a graceful length of acidity lingering on the finish. Virginie Boone

Lots of dried pineapple, lemon rind, and hot stones on the nose. Full-bodied, dense and round with lots of dried lemon and cooked apples. Hints of wax. Bitter lemon, too. Layered, long and flavorful. Drink now.