Our Estate Cuvée Blanc is a classic blend of aromatic white Rhone varietals with a dash of our estate Chardonnay for added complexity and body. Light golden in color, this wine refreshes with notes of honeysuckle and apricot on the nose merging with bright flavors of white peach, apricot galette, and a hint of orange peel. The finish is juicy and crisp with the touch of minerality that these Rhone-style wines are famous for.
2015 brought an early and light harvest that began on August 10, the earliest date in St. Francis’ history. The year started out very warm and dry but then cool, damp weather in May hampered fruit set. Though the result was smaller, looser clusters on the vine, the warm and consistent summer that followed produced high-quality fruit with exceptional aromatics and concentrated flavors.
Each of the grape varieties for this classic Rhone-inspired blend comes from our Certified Sustainable Wild Oak Estate Vineyard planted at the base of Sugarloaf Ridge and Hood Mountain in Sonoma Valley. The rock and gravel that have washed down over the centuries provide ideal soil conditions for small yields of concentrated fruit. Sonoma Valley’s cool evenings and warm afternoons allow the fruit to develop intense flavors and aromas while maintaining high acidity.
Naturally flavorful off the vine, the grapes for this cuvée (French for blend) are picked in the early morning hours to retain their delicate flavors and aromas and sent immediately to press. After a slow, cool fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks, the wines are aged in French oak barrels for seven months before bottling.
