2009 Larkmead Sauvignon Blanc Lillie
Prezzo di mercato
Opzioni di acquisto
Note di degustazione
(made from a 1.5-acre block of ten-year-old vines; 80% fermented in a vertical foudre , the rest in stainless steel and a couple of barriques , then aged for 10 months): Medium lemon-yellow color. Pungent aromas of grapefruit, lemon zest and minerals; still a hint of reduction, perhaps owing to the use of the vertical foudre . Then ripe and rich but firm in the mouth, with lovely floral lift; turned creamier with air, with the floral element growing stronger. Finishes with good bite. Larkmead sold off the fruit from the other block that normally goes into this wine, as it ripened too quickly and did not show enough flavor development.
Punteggi della critica
Punteggio medio
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Altre recensioni e punteggi
The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Lilly represents 400 cases of 100% Sauvignon Blanc aged 10 months in one-fourth new French oak barrels on its fermentation lees. Made in a Bordeaux-like yet reassuringly California style, it offers up notions of Thai lemon grass, white peaches, honeyed citrus, pineapples and figs. Medium-bodied with layers of flavor as well as a huge perfume, it is a super, dry Sauvignon to enjoy over the next several years. When people talk about the greatest vineyards of Napa Valley, Larkmead has to be among the top half dozen or so terroirs. This historic vineyard dates back to the late 1800s and has been owned by the Solari family (currently Cam Baker and Kate Solari Baker) since 1948. The well-known Andy Smith is the consulting winemaker (he is also the force behind some of the brilliant wines of DuMol in the Russian River Valley). Larkmead has been making terrific wines over the last 5-6 years, but the 2007s were the finest wines I have ever tasted from this estate. The 2008s are very close in quality to the 2007s, and every 2008 performed better from bottle than it did last year from barrel (always a good sign). The Larkmead Vineyard (just over 120 acres) has again achieved remarkable success in 2009. These offerings are among the stars of the 2009 vintage. If the 2008s and 2007s were versions of Napa Valley meeting Pauillac, the 2009s might be considered Napa Valley wines meeting both Pomerol and Pauillac. They all possess silky tannins, deep, concentrated fruit, full body and upfront personalities that will make them even more charming than the brilliant 2007s and 2008s. There is lots of depth as well as perfumed characters in the 2009s. In fact, their aromatics may turn out to be even more intense and expansive than in either 2008 or 2007. In case you missed them, although I think they are completely sold out, the scores awarded to the 2007s last year are: 2007 LMV Salon (97), 2007 Firebelle (93), 2007 Solari Reserve (96+), 2007 The Lark (96+), and 2007 Estate (94+). Tel. (707) 942-0167; Fax (707) 942-6934