Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

2018
Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

Notes of bergamot, ginger, white flowers and green tea. Swirling adds caramelized kumquat, lightly toasted puff pastry and white peach pit. The palate has a hint of bloomed baking spice, pithy citrus and vibrant acidity. A beautifully complex wine with density, verve and a spice filled finish.

Vintages

Varietal(s)

97% Sauvignon Blanc, 3% Sémillon

Vinification

Fermented in 85% concrete eggs, 12% used French oak puncheons and 3% new French oak puncheons. Aged for 3 months in fermentation vessels and 6 months in 860L French oak puncheons.

Alcohol

13.6%

Cases Produced

171

Vintage Notes

The 2018 Matthews Reserve Sauvignon Blanc was crafted exclusively from two vineyard Washington State vineyard sites located in the Yakima Valley and Royal Slope region of the Columbia Valley. Farmed using sustainable practices, the vines were farmed at one cluster per shoot for maximum concentration. They were then hand-harvested in the early mornings between September 10th - September 14th. Upon arriving at the winery, each vineyard lot was hand-sorted, whole cluster pressed, and left to settle for 24-48 hours. The wine was initially fermented in a combination of small concrete eggs and larger French oak puncheons. A small amount of lees was kept with the wine during racking, and using only free-run wine, it was then moved to two 860L French oak puncheons where it was rolled for 3 months before being settled in bottle on July 3rd, 2019. Following over 40 individual evaluations by our winemaking team, the resulting 2 860L barrels were bottled, producing only 171 cases.

Expert Reviews & Scores

Sean Sullivan, Wine Enthusiast

92 / 100

Editor’s Choice – Fermented in concrete eggs and puncheons, this wine is a blend of Royal Slope and Yakima Valley fruit. Appealing aromas of pink grapefruit, whole ginger, herb, gooseberry, wet slate, kiwi, white peach and citrus are followed by medium-bodied, well-balanced tropical and citrus fruit flavors, with a lingering finish that ups the interest. It brings a sense of seriousness and heft and should do well with some bottle age. Serious stuff.

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

91 / 100

Bright, light yellow. Musky scents of grapefruit and lime pith, white pepper, mint, ginger and anise, plus hints of riper soft citrus fruits and white flowers and a faint mineral quality. Seamless and fine-grained on entry, then dense but utterly smooth in the middle palate, showing lovely spicy lift to its riper stone fruit and citrus flavors. More horizontal than vertical today, this wine finishes quite dry, with a gingery firmness. Very distinctive Washington Sauvignon Blanc.

Jeb Dunnuckjebdunnuck.com

90 / 100

Including 3% Semillon, the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve comes from the Boushey and Stillwater Creek vineyards. Offering Bordeaux blanc-like notes of lemon curd, mint, sappy flowers, and subtle rocky minerality, it's medium-bodied, has bright acidity, plenty of mid-palate depth and texture, and a clean finish. It’s going to keep for a solid 3-5 years.

Trade Materials