Winery: Danza del Sol Winery
Product/Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2017
AVA on Bottle: Temecula Valley
Winemaker: Justin Knight, Renato Sais
Rating: 91
How They Describe It
Danza del Sol just released their 2017 vintage. When this entry was published tasting notes had not been released yet. However, to paint some context about the kind of Sauvignon Blanc produced at Danza del Sol, this was what they wrote for the 2016 vintage:
“A mouthwatering balance of fresh fruit and acidity. Opens with aromas of white blossoms the lead to white peach, melon and ripe citrus. Each sip brings light notes of lemongrass, lime and green apple.
“Pair with: Asian inspired dishes and grilled poultry or seafood.
“Residual Sugar: 0.02%”
How I Describe It
Appearance
In the glass, Danza del Sol’s 2017 Sauvignon Blanc is a clear, crisp, pale lemony yellow. One characteristic you might note is how viscous the wine looks. As you’ll read below, that is largely attributed to the alcohol content.
Nose
The 2017 Sauv Blanc is a fruity and floral bouquet on the nose. Tropical fruit hits first, with pineapple, mango, and honeydew melon. Stone fruit like nectarine and peach follow, along with pear and green apple.
Globally, Sauvignon Blancs tend to focus on fruit and herbal notes. Interestingly, Danza del Sol’s 2017 vintage features distinct floral notes, including lemongrass, peach blossom, honeysuckle, elderflower (think St. Germain liqueur), and hints of rose petal.
Palate
The palate on the 2017 Sauvignon Blanc largely matches the nose. Honeyed green apple leads, transitioning to acidic pineapple and elderflower. The pear, peach, and nectarine are there, but less abundantly so compared to the aroma.
Like most California Sauvignon Blancs, the wine is dry, with nearly no tannin and medium-high acidity. The wine has significantly more body than non-Temecula Sauv Blancs, given the extraordinarily high 14.1% alcohol content.
Alcohol is slightly thicker than water, so it creates a somewhat creamy, viscous mouthfeel, which balances well with the wine’s acidity. The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc’s high alcohol content coats your tongue (in a good way), allowing the fruity flavors to linger for a long finish.
Why is This Wine Special?
First, this is Temecula Wine Ratings’ first white wine rating!
Temecula’s winemaking history has deep roots in white wines, so crafting quality whites is a must for local wineries.
Danza del Sol’s 2017 Sauvignon Blanc uses only estate-grown grapes. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I have a tremendous amount of respect for wineries which also invest in and stand behind their own grapes.
One aspect I find incredibly interesting about Danza del Sol is their winemaking team. For one, their associate winemaker, Justin Knight, is a local, having been brought up around Temecula wines. What makes this special is how Temecula Wine Country is building new generations of winemakers, rather than importing them.
On the other hand, Danza del Sol’s consulting winemaker, Renato Sais, comes from Guadalupe Wine Country, in Mexico. Yes, Mexico also has an up-and-coming wine region, and more than one Temecula Valley winemaker got their start there.
My only criticism about the 2017 Sauvignon Blanc is the high alcohol leaves a slightly bitter finish at the very end. But a second sip immediately remedies the issue.
When & How I Would Drink It
Enjoy the Danza del Sol 2017 Sauvignon Blanc on a warm day with a late lunch or early dinner. This is a crisp wine which deserves drinking with lighter, oily or creamy, generously seasoned foods — a pesto pasta dish, for instance. Lemon pepper salmon or seared tuna would complement the 2017 Sauvignon Blanc well, as would an appetizer of caprese salad.
While refreshing to drink, there is enough going on with this wine to keep the experience interesting. Keep a glass of water by your side to stay hydrated, though, because the 14.1% ABV can pack a punch if you’re not careful.
How to Get It
Order Online: https://danzadelsolwinery.com/wines/white
Bottle Price: $28 ($22.40 for wine club members)
Cases Produced: unknown