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Ink Grade
Sauvignon Blanc
Napa Valley
- 100% Sauvignon Blanc
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Vintage Wine Name Sauvignon Blanc 2019 Vintage 2019 Wine Description Sourced from our Diamondback and Pope's Gold vineyard blocks and aged for nine months in a mix of concrete, stainless steel, and up to 25% new French oak, this wine has power from density of flavor, not ripeness, and finishes with acid and vibrancy. A singular expression of Sauvignon Blanc like no other in Napa Valley. Region Napa Valley Varietal Composition 100% Sauvignon Blanc Vineyard Details Ink Grade features Howell Mountain AVA’s northernmost vineyards and some of its highest (up to 2,200ft). Tasting notes This wine will be a pillar for California Sauvignon Blanc. The hallmark tropical components are elevated with the structure of minerality that comes from soils at Ink Grade. The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc has retained an herbal and mineral note with a backdrop of lemongrass and slate. These aromatics are balanced by tropical notes that create a wine of texture and complexity. Pairing notes Pair this exceptional Sauvignon Blanc with any shellfish or seafood dishes, as well as roasted poultry, cream-based sauces and fried foods that need a wine with bright acidity to balance the meal. Alcohol % 12.5 Aging 100% French Oak (60% new, 40% used) SRP 65 Acclaim 90. Distinctive, with crisp lemon, lime and pear flavors, which are fresh and light on the mouthwatering frame, with green apple skin and lanolin details lingering on the finish. Drink now. 800 cases made. - Wine Spectator Feature Bullet 1 Howell Mountain’s first monopole estate, first planted with vines in 1873 by visionary pioneer, Theron Ink. Feature Bullet 2 800 wild acres, of which 200 are farmed organically and biodynamically since their planting over 35 years ago. Largest biodynamically-farmed vineyard in Napa County. Feature Bullet 3 Winemaker Matt Taylor learned winemaking from legends like Rod Berglund at Joseph Swan and Jacques Seysses at Domaine Dujac. Feature Bullet 4 History dates back to 1873, current vines replanted under Heitz Cellar in 1990-1991. Cabernet vines are 35 years, rare in Napa. Feature Bullet 5 Howell Mountain AVA’s most graceful, classically-styled wines, made to drink well on release and age for decades. Winery Ink Grade Winery Description The Ink Grade Estate Vineyard claims a view unbeknownst to most in the Napa Valley. Set among densely forested pines and sequoia stands, it lies in the north-east corner of the Howell Mountain AVA with a predominant view facing East. Terraced throughout due to the extreme slope, this mountainside vineyard grasps to volcanic “tufa” soils. Ink Grade Estate possesses a raw tension that renders fruit of immense intensity and depth. If ever there was a site which imparted a feeling of reverence, Ink Grade is such a place. Winemaker Matt Taylor is formerly of Araujo Eisele and Domaine Dujac, and handles this rugged terrain with care and expertise. Winery Instagram Handle @inkgradeestate Winemaker Matt Taylor Winemaker Bio Matt Taylor was born and raised in Sonoma County. Growing up, his parents did not drink, and he was first introduced to the world of wine by his best friend’s dad, Chris Bilbro, who owned Marietta Cellars in Geyserville. His earliest memories of wine would be mushroom hunting or pig hunting, followed by preparing a meal accompanied by a good bottle of wine. While in college, Matt played football at the University of Washington, winning a Pac-10 championship. However, after suffering two herniated disks in his back, Matt decided to give up the game and pursue winemaking. Matt lived in Cádiz, Spain for nearly two years, where he was able to study and work in a Bodega in Jerez. Upon returning to the US, he was hired as assistant winemaker at Joseph Swan in the Russian River Valley, where he worked the 2000 and 2001 vintages. In 2001, he enrolled in Fresno State University where he earned his post-Baccalaureate degree in Viticulture & Enology. He focused on whole cluster while at Fresno State, which led him to meet Jeremy Seysses of Domaine Dujac. This meeting led to an internship at Domaine Dujac under Jacques Seysses for the 2004 vintage. Upon finishing his Viticulture & Enology degree, he joined Araujo Estate Wines to manage the vineyards and act as assistant winemaker to Francoise Peschon. The Araujos also allowed him to work harvests in Argentina and New Zealand. He would go on to become Head Winemaker and Vineyard Manager at Araujo Estate Wines. After the 2010 vintage, Matt departed Araujo for two new endeavors: Reuling Vineyard, a Sonoma Coast project focused on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and Front Porch Farm, an organic and biodynamic farm where Matt converted the vineyards to grafted Rhone varieties. From 2014 to 2018, Matt joined Napa Valley winery Chamboulé, where his tenure was crucial to his development, in terms of research, making wines naturally, and his stylistic approach to winemaking. Matt would go on to form his own project, Matt Taylor Wines, focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the West Sonoma Coast and a soon-to-be added Loire-based component. He has also made wines for 32 Winds Wines in Healdsburg, a boutique winery specializing in Sonoma County grapes. In March 2020, Matt joined Lawrence Wine Estates as winemaker for Ink Grade, a new label launching in September 2021. The Ink Grade Estate Vineyard lies in the north-east corner of the Howell Mountain AVA in Napa Valley, boasting scenic views of forested pines and sequoia and rendering pure, intense fruit.