2022 Smith Story Wine Cellars Spring Wine Release
This release is a very special one for us and for loyal fans of the Smith Story Sauvignon Blanc and Helluva Vineyard Pinot Noir too. Here's why:
2021 Smith Story, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County, 400 cases made. $30
First of all, this wine is stunning, it's everything we've always dreamed of our Sauvignon Blanc to taste like. Wet stone, fresh citrus with a focused and edgy character. The Loire Valley's legendary winemaker Didier Dagueneau (RIP) has always been our muse, he must have been smiling down on us for this vintage! Couple this superior quality with very little made and we have the most special Smith Story Sauvignon Blanc release yet.
In 2021 the vines struggled large in part due to drought conditions which produced a lower yield in the vineyard. The area on top of the Sonoma Mountain AVA tends to be cooler in the morning with afternoon winds during full sun. This makes for an ideal growing season and the quality of the Sauvignon Blanc grapes at harvest were exceptional.
We've been working with the owner to convert this vineyard over the last few years to organic and the result can also sometimes lead to lower yields. We also did not blend a second and third vineyard this vintage. Sticking to organic fruit is priority.
2019 Smith Story, Helluva Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley. 550 cases made. $50
This is our last bottling of the Helluva Vineyard. Our 6th and final pinot noir release from this vineyard before we moved into more deep-end organic vineyard contracts. As we dig back into our memory of the 2019 harvest of Helluva it was nothing less than a classic harvest for Smith Story. A cool and wet beginning of the year in Boonville, bud break in late March followed by a moderate weather year. Fun fact: rain began the morning after our harvest under the night sky. September fermentation filled the winery with the signature Helluva Vineyard fresh aromas full of the joy always found from this special Anderson Valley wine. The Helluva pinot noir (along with all our wines) was tucked away safely in barrel by the time of the Kincaid fire which caused evacuations in and around the customer crush winery in Windsor.
Today this wine is filled with beauty. It's sleek, well-balanced wine with loved and vibrant flavors of juicy cherry and red-currants. The 25% new oak is integrated giving a slight taste of toasted french baguettes with a hint of cinnamon. It’s delicious. Buy more than than you think you'll need, you will thank us later. The aging potential is at least 10 more years. $50 a bottle is the exclusive 2022 Spring Wine Release price, it will increase to $64 by May 2022 if any remains.
Storyteller Wine Club Members receive allocations first; then on March 1, 2022 the remaining wines will be allocated to the mailing list release.