2009 LaZarre Wines Edna Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Mission Codename: The White Leopard
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Acquire a limited allocation of the Adam LaZarre’s newest Sauvignon Blanc
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: LaZarre Wines
Wine Subject: 2009 Edna Valley San Luis Obisbo Sauvignon Blanc
Winemaker: Adam LaZarre
Backgrounder:
California’s Central Coast region, and specifically Santa Barbara and San Luis Obisbo County has become one of the state’s premier wine regions. The generally warmer climate, moderated by the coastal fog, its sandy and clay loam soil, and broad exposure results in grapes of exceptional purity.
Sauvignon Blanc originally hails from the Loire Valley in France, but has found new homes in other parts of France (Bordeaux, where it is blended with Sauternes); New Zealand, and specifically the Marlborough region as well as California. It is generally dry and crisp with flavors of apples, pears and tropical fruit and tends to have bright acidity that lends itself well to pairing with spicy foods.
Adam LaZarre, while he is officially the winemaker for Villa San-Juliette Winery (and formerly from Hahn Estates and their affiliated labels) has been making super-premium, limited quantity wines for years and has elevated his skill to an art form. Always an operative favorite, this wine is well worth tasting.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Light, pale and crystal clear straw yellow with very subtle greenish tints that turn nearly clear along the edges. When swirled, thin random legs ring the glass before descending to the wine below.
Smell – Bright and focused aromas of stone and tropical fruit along with tart citrus lead off with a touch of green grass and herbal notes and a slight touch of smoke.
Feel – Restrained and lean, this youthful medium bodied dry wine has racy acidity with a touch of minerality that lingers into the finish.
Taste – Clean and crisp with this wine’s tropical and citrus fruit dancing over the palate while its subtle green herb and grass, mineral notes and hints of smoke linger just underneath.
Finish – Long and clean, this vibrant wine lingers with bright tropical and citrus fruit flavors and tart acidity and mineral texture.
Conclusion – The 2009 LaZarre Wines Edna Valley San Luis Obisbo Sauvignon Blanc is a fresh and youthful wine that is the perfect aperitif for fresh or raw seafood. Its bright tropical and citrus fruit greets you on the nose and lingers long into the finish. Enjoy this wine now or cellar for a couple years to give it some time to further develop.
Mission Report:
WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER
SUBJECT: Adam LaZarre, AKA Agent Orange
WINE EDUCATION: Fresno State University Bachelor of Science Enology
CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: Winemaker/Director of Operations at Villa San-Juliette Winery. Consulting Winemaker for Hearst Ranch Winery. Former VP of Winemaking at Hahn Estates, several Central Coast wineries over the past two decades
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: People drink wine in good times and in bad, therefore, always make your wine taste expensive
WINEMAKER QUOTE: “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing…”
FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: Under my label? November,2004 – LaZarre 2003 Bien Nacido Pinot Noir
WINEMAKER INTERVIEW
AGENT WHITE: Greetings, Adam – AKA Agent Orange. We are thrilled to be showing your 2009 Edna Valley Sauvignon Blanc today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.
ORANGE: Dude. Always a pleasure to chat with a real secret agent.
WHITE: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?
ORANGE: Yup. Well, several. I can think of a number of wines that changed my paradigm about wine at various times throughout my life. 1970 Lynch-Bages my dad had in the cellar, 1977 Graham’s Vintage Port, 1986 J. Phelps Insignia, 1985 Beringer Knights Valley Cab, and a particular late 80’s Chardonnay from Western Australia…the name escapes me.
WHITE: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?
ORANGE: The late Don Blackburn, former winemaker at Bernardus taught me of the importance of mouthfeel. Barry Gnekow, consultant and former J. Lohr winemaker taught me the importance of always overdelivering in every bottle, all the time. Rick Boyer (Jekel/Blackstone), Paul Clifton (Hahn Estates), and Christian Rougenant (Tangent/Baileyanna) have all added something to my technique and style.
WHITE: Who do you make wine for?
ORANGE: Companies? Villa San-Juliette Winery, Hearst Ranch Winery, my own brand. I make wine for the consumers. I make wine the owners are proud to take to a party. For me and my wife’s label, I make a wine that we can drink at home without getting bored of it.
WHITE: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.
ORANGE: Its a Sauvignon Blanc from the Paragon Vineyards in the Edna Valley appellation. I have always wanted to focus on Sauvignon Blanc as it is truly a difficult wine to make correctly. Edna Valley is probably my favorite appellation for the varietal as wines made from this appellation routinely contain a melange of varietally correct flavors and aromas – gooseberry, grass, grapefruit, melon.
The grapes were tank fermented very slowly, then taken down to neutral French barrels for extended lees aging for about 9 months. Secondary fermentation was inhibited so although there is a considerable amount of mouthfeel, the fruit flavors are pure and pronounced with a very racy acidity underscoring the whole affair.
WHITE: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?
ORANGE: Oh man. Easy. Steamed clams in butter, garlic, and white wine with a little parsley and a few bacon bits tossed in. Damn.
WHITE: In your opinion, what makes the Central Coast and Edna Valley in particular so special?
ORANGE: Virtually all I do is from the Central Coast of California. There are soooo many challenges that really excite me as a winemaker. As for Edna Valley, the direct ocean influence makes for an insanely long growing season so flavors are extreme, acids are pronounced, and pH is low. But, everything always seems so in balance.
WHITE: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?
ORANGE: Building it. We have this gorgeous facility on 132 acres (Villa San-Juliette) with two 3,000 sq/ft winery buildings that have just gone in. Next step is to load it up with equipment and a tasting room. I’m getting tired of making all of my wines at friends’ wineries…..
WHITE: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?
ORANGE: A glass of wine should ALWAYS leave you asking “What food would I pair with this?” It has to beg the question. It should be the first thought you have after your very first sip. I hope mine do just that. But a wine should still be complete enough to stand on its own as an aperitif.
WHITE: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
ORANGE: I just had a new baby girl a few weeks back. Wait. That’s redundant. A “new” baby girl? As opposed to an “old” baby girl? OK. Im still a little sleep deprived…
WHITE: Congratulations on the new addition to the LaZarre family! Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The approximate location of the Edna Valley AVA in San Luis Obisbo County can be seen in this satellite photo.
