Materra Sauvignon Blanc 2021
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Suckling
James
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
This fresh Sauvignon Blanc bursting with layers of tropical fruit: guava, starfruit, and mango, with just a touch of grassiness.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of fresh tropical fruit, jasmine and thyme. Medium-bodied and pretty on the palate. Floral and fruity. Juicy, too, with a bit of zesty zip.
Other Vintages
2022-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James
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Wong
Wilfred
Each Materra wine is a perfect expression of the land, the grapes, the passion the Cunat family has invested in each bottle and the unyielding quality delivered consistently by the growing conditions and terroir of the Napa Valley. Brian and the entire Cunat family look forward to sharing their dreams with you over a glass of Materra.
Materra (a rough translation of Mother Earth in Latin) is not only the name of the wine but also represents the family’s commitment to finding the best soils, climates and water, nurturing these elements and embracing and enhancing Mother Earth’s gifts to produce some of the highest quality grapes and wines from the Oak Knoll district of Napa Valley.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
As one of Napa’s coolest sub-appellations, the area begs for diversity among its vineyards. Merlot and Chardonnay firmly compete with Cabernet Sauvignon for a place here. Some of Napa’s best Zinfandels also come from the Oak Knoll District.
Situated far in Napa’s southern end, Oak Knoll receives a strong cooling influence from both the San Pablo Bay and the Pacific Coast’s evening fog and breezes. Summer days are warm but on average ten degrees cooler than in St. Helena farther north up the valley; summer nights are chilly. A long growing season promotes for leisurely ripening of grape berries, resulting in an impressive balance of sugars, phenols and acidity.
Notable producers include Trefethen, one of the appellation’s oldest wineries, Robert Biale, legendary Zinfandel producer and Lewis Cellars, a family-run, hands-on establishment.