Horse Heaven Hills Sauv Blanc

2023 was an exceptional vintage for Sauvignon Blanc. Along with Yakima Valley, this is our second vintage sourcing several Sauvignon Blanc clones from Horse Heaven Hills. The new winemaking team worked with our vineyard managers to update our viticultural practices, reducing yields (on average) by 30% for each site.

All three vineyard sites were picked in the morning light starting in early September. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes were whole cluster pressed under a blanket of protective CO2 and the juice was delivered into tank. It was then cold settled for 24 hours before being fermented in 100% stainless steel tanks. Fermentation techniques were selected individually for each vineyard to help accentuate the fruit and typicity from each location. Primary fermentation was slow and cool, allowing the wine to hold onto its intense aromatic profile.

Aged in stainless steel with a small percentage in neutral oak for 5 months. Secondary fermentation was arrested to preserve freshness and acidity and the wine was blended shortly before bottling. The wine was bottled in April 2024. Only 3975 cases were made.

Expert Reviews & Scores

Virginie Boone, jebdunnuck.com

94 / 100

A little cloudiness in the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc doesn't mar the elegance and lift of the texture and finesse in this medium-bodied wine. Stone fruit and crushed rock highlight a core of focused acidity that keeps it fresh in the glass and lengthy for additional aging 7-10 years.

Clive Pursehouse, Decanter

94 / 100

The 2023 vintage was interesting, with a lot of soil moisture late into the season, which meant a lot of growth and early development. It's a great vintage for white wines, good phenolic ripeness, it was kind of a coast. From three vineyards, two in Horse Heaven Hills and Olsen Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. The Horse Heaven sites one gives acid and tension, the other tropical. Olsen, we can push a little to get some botrytis and push some flavour complexity. We focus on texture in our Sauvignon Blanc, leaving it on the lees for a long time, to create a truly authentic wine. This wine shows great complexity and dazzling aromas of ginger, honeyed peaches and rich preserved lemon tones. Juicy Meyer lemon on the palate, there's a brilliance that matches the complexity, nuance, minerality and citrus creaminess, there's a touch of smoky flint.

Trade Materials