2010 Sauvignon Blanc Lake County

Ryan Zepaltas told me that "2009 was an ideal vintage for the way my style is evolving: lower alcohols and more freshness than with '08, but with good structure. And as far as weather went it was really a no-brainer, especially for people who like to harvest on the early side." Zepaltas told me that he tries to be very hard on his wines, saying that "if you're going to do something well you have to able to admit that you screwed something up instead of making excuses or acting like it's great." He said that he wants his wines, both white and red, "to be agers, so I want them kind of chewy and gritty when they're young. If they're too smooth and polished when they start out I'm afraid that they don't really have anywhere to go."