2004 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

I tasted this year with assistant winemakers Ashley Hepworth (Joseph Phelps Vineyards) andTheresa Heredia (Freestone), as Craig Williams was on an extended fact-finding trip to France as part of his efforts to fine-tune this producer's major Sonoma Coast venture in Freestone. Hepworth told me that vintage 2004 was especially strong for white grapes, with a very early harvest beginning on August 11. The first red grapes came in on September 7. Heredia described 2003 as "a rollercoaster of a year which evened out toward the end. "Ultimately, the tannins are more refined than those of 2004, which she described as "a bit overripe. "As always, the Insignia and Bacchus bottlings are standouts here.