
This wine, designated as a “micro lot,” meaning less then four barrels were produced, elevates humble sauvignon blanc. Most obviously, the nose is unlike most sauvignon blanc in that there is an herbal, grassy, viscosity to it. It was aged 11 month in French oak cigar barrels, hence the name. And no it doesn’t refer to cigar qualities in the wine, it refers to the elongated “cigar like” shaped barrels, which provide more contact between the wine, the barrels and the solids suspended in the wine. Therefore, something more tactile evolves. This wine quietly offers lemon verbena and lime Kiefer, green apple, lemongrass, and grapefruit, but in very subtle tones. There is more of a richness here, a viscosity with back notes of amber and resin, almost as if this has been aged for a decade or more. The acidity is spot on and the maturity of this wine is remarkable.
ORIGIN: Los Carneros, Napa Valley
ALCOHOL: 14.3%
PRICE: $40 / 750 ml
SCORE: 92 POINTS