Single-Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay may hog the limelight, and for those in the know the eclectic white Rhône-varietal blends are gold dust, but California's real treat is Sauvignon Blanc!

From the forested slopes of Napa to the high mountain plains of Santa Barbara County, the quality of Californian Sauvignon Blanc has never been higher, and the expressions produced on the very best terroirs are truly world-class.

Our two favourite producers are 300 miles apart, and their Sauvignon Blancs both stand as benchmarks for their respective regions: Arkenstone Estate on Napa's Howell Mountain, and Dragonette Cellars from Santa Barbara's Happy Canyon.

Winemakers Sam Kaplan (Arkenstone) and Brandon Sparks-Gillis (Dragonette) have both taken inspiration from the age-worthy examples at the greatest Châteaux of Bordeaux, combining centuries of knowledge with a modern approach. They have captured the very essence of two magnificent Vineyards.

Arkenstone's single block of Sauvignon Blanc lies in a hidden corner of the Estate at 500m above sea level. The cooler climate and rare white tufa (decomposed volcanic ash) soils give the wine vibrancy and boundless energy, while judicious use of the best French oak brings depth, texture, and the all important cellaring potential.

Their earliest vintages are still flying, with the 2013 recently picking up 98 points and earmarked to drink for another couple of decades! The newly-released 2023 Blanc is arguably their best to date, picking up the same score straight off the bat, and will continue to evolve beautifully.

The Vogelzang Vineyard  sits at the end of a 40 miles geological funnel that draws the cooling Pacific coastal fog inland, which combines with gravelly soils to create a mini-nirvana for Sauvignon Blanc.

Brandon selects a special blend of French barriques, including a Dagueneau-inspired Cigar barrel, keeping the wine on its lees for 18 months to add even more complexity. Bright with tension and energy, it's regularly been cited as the Central Coast's best Sauvignon Blanc by leading critic Jeb Dunnuck.

The brand-new 2023 Vogelzang is the best to date: "I’d happily put this in a blind lineup with the best Bordeaux Blanc." (JD)

We have small parcels of each wine at their respective wineries, available to pre-order now.

With a combined total of just 800 cases produced, most of which will be snapped up by their mailing lists, you'll need to secure yours now, and the only place in the UK to do so is here.