2002 Sauvignon Blanc Eisele Vineyard
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Tasting notes
(with 4% viognier; aged in 25% new oak) Aromatically complex nose combines lemon, mint, honeysuckle and grilled nuts. Fat and sweet but perfumed in the mouth, with an oily texture lifted by the floral viognier. Impressively dense and highly distinctive. One of the lots of sauvignon blanc received more skin contact prior to being pressed, with the objective of getting more mouth feel.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2002 Sauvignon Blanc is Araujo’s finest example of this cuvee yet produced. A personality-filled Sauvignon (about 4% Viognier is included), it offers knock-out aromatics of flint, citrus oils, and exotic tropical fruits. Well-delineated and medium-bodied, with good underlying acidity, it is meant to be consumed over the next several years. It is one of the finest domestic Sauvignon Blancs money can buy. Tel. (707) 942-6061; Fax (707) 942-6471
Captivating aromas of lemon drop, lime oil and white flowers. Ripe and rich, with grapefruit, pineapple and mint flavors nicely framed by sound lemony acidity. Supple in the middle and firm on the finish, with a slight phenolic element giving the wine a refreshing edge. This distinctive wine is mostly sauvignon musque, with 20% sauvignon blanc and 4% viognier. Less than a quarter of it was aged in barrels, and winemaker Francoise Peschon noted that these barrels don't give a toasty taste as the staves were bent with steam, not fire.
About the producer
Eisele Vineyard is one of Napa’s oldest properties, first planted in the 1880s. Today owned by François Pinault of Ch. Latour, it is known for its top Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as the unique Sauvignon Blanc.