2024 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars "Aveta" Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc

Sourced primarily from vineyards in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley—including the estate-owned Danika Ranch Estate—with 24% drawn from long-time grower Rancho Chimiles in Wooden Valley, this Sauvignon Blanc-led blend is shaped by a thoughtful shift in winemaking for the vintage. In 2024, winemaker Marcus Notaro increased stainless-steel fermentations to 70% and 30% in neutral French oak barrels, followed by six months on the lees —a notable change from previous years. Notaro notes that much of Sauvignon Blanc’s flavour resides in the skins, and that controlled stabilisation helps release aromatic esters that might otherwise remain bound. The addition of Sémillon enhances palate weight and texture. In the glass, the wine is bright, vivid, and focused, offering a fleshy mid-palate balanced by grippy citrus character—lemon and lime zest—alongside high-toned floral notes and slivered almond aromatics. Laser-focused and polished, it finishes with welcome tension and clarity, making for a complex, energetic, and finely tuned white. (JC)