Emmolo carries on a family tradition dating back to 1923, when my great-grandfather Salvatore Emmolo immigrated from Italy to Rutherford. Buying property that remains in the family to this day, he built a winery and started a grapevine rootstock nursery. Managed for many years by my grandfather Frank Emmolo, the nursery became the leading supplier to Napa Valley vintners. In 1994, my mother, Cheryl, launched Emmolo wines, eager to continue the family name. Today Im proud to be doing just that, with my second release of Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot. Our grapes are still grown on family property, and my grandparents, Frank and Annie, still live in Rutherford where they sit on their porch keeping an eye on the vines.Production and StyleCreating a unique expression of California Sauvignon Blanc starts in the vineyard. This vintage was sourced from two family vineyards Emmolo Rutherford provides fresh citrus characteristics, while Emmolo Oak Knoll lends crisp minerality.2013 was consistently warm and dry, with harvest running from mid-August through early September. The grapes were lightly pressed and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. I aged the wine in both stainless steel and older French oak barrels, adding depth and complexity while preserving the varietys character.Emmolo 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Tasting NotesLight and soft-bodied, the 2013 vintage offers a firm acidity balanced with a stark, steely flavor. Aromas are fresh and clean, evoking the scent of early morning after a first rain, with a hint of honeysuckle and underlying notes of tangerine and wet stone. The wine enters the palate with a crisp yet soft quality, flowing into flavors of flower blossom and ending with a mouthwatering finish of fresh-squeezed grapefruit. A long-lasting, zesty minerality leaves the sensation of both subtlety and brightness.
