Airfield Estates Sauvignon Blanc
WHY WE LOVE IT
- 100% Estate Grown.
- Airfield has been growing Sauvignon Blanc on their estate vineyard in Yakima Valley for over 40 years.
- Managing their canopies and exposing the grapes at just the right time in the growing season are critical elements in creating this highly rated wine.
Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Elaboration: Grapes are hand-sorted and pressed as whole clusters. After six days of settling, the juice is racked and inoculated with a New Zealand yeast strain to enhance fruit character. Fermentation at 61-62 degrees lasts three weeks, minimizing astringencies. The lees are stirred twice monthly for two months to build body. Finally, the wine is settled, stabilized, and filtered for clarity.
Tasting Notes: A refreshing, light-bodied wine with vibrant tropical citrus fruit aromas. Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, lime zest, and layers of fresh lemongrass dominate the nose. On the palate, bright acidity highlights secondary flavors of guava with undertones of mandarin peel and a hint of minerality. The finish is clean and brisk, accentuating the wine’s natural acidity.
PRESS
2023 – 90 Jeb Dunnuck | 90 Paul Gregutt | 89 Wine Enthusiast – Best Buy!
2024 – 90 James Suckling | 90 Wine Enthusiast
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Airfield Estates is a fourth-generation vineyard located in Yakima Valley, Washington, operated by siblings Marcus Miller and Lori Stevens. The property was originally a World War II training base, which was sold to the Miller family for just $1 after it closed in 1944. H. Lloyd Miller played a crucial role in securing funding for the Rosa Canal Project, which enabled irrigation for the vineyard. In 1967, their grandfather, Don Miller, planted test varietals, and by 1971, the vineyard had expanded to include over 20 commercial varieties, establishing it as Washington’s oldest AVA.