We enjoyed a wonderful vintage from start to finish in 2012, our best since 2005. A gentle spring allowed for textbook flowering and fruit set, followed by a long procession of warm, sunny days with no nasty heat spikes. Thanks to the excellent weather, the longer-than-average growing season produced wonderfully balanced and ripe grapes.

Relying on naturally-occurring yeasts, we fermented 80% of the grapes in 900-gallon French oak casks, called foudres, with the remainder in previously-used small French oak barrels. We then aged the wine six months on its lees (the spent yeast) in neutral barrels. The combination of the right clones and cool growing region produced crisp flavors of Meyer lemon, white peach, and dried apricot with mineral notes that are perfect with a wide range of food, including grilled fish, goat cheese salad, and spicy Mexican or Asian cuisine.

91 Point Review - Wine Review Online This 2012 Fumé Blanc is particularly impressive. The vintage was ideal, a relatively cool year with no heat spikes and a long growing season. This wine will probably develop and age very nicely, because of its high acidity. But why wait to enjoy it, when it is so beautiful now, and so intriguing? Springtime can come early, at least in our wine glasses.