Seeking to establish a throughline from the groundbreaking Fumé Blanc of her grandfather to her current generation, Chiara Mondavi has introduced a Sauvignon Blanc-based wine called Sentium through her father's Continuum vehicle. The vision for this wine pictured a "vibrant, mineral-driven white wine inspired by the family's history as well as the great wines of the Loire."
Fruit for the wine were sourced from "small, family-owned and -farmed old vine vineyards" which shared Chiara's "affinity for nature and organic winegrowing." Such fruit and conditions were discovered in selected vineyards in Mendocino's Redwood Valley AVA.
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| Fruit source for Sentium |
Redwood Valley is an upland valley where the climate is cooler than surrounding appellations due to a coastal ridge gap which allows cool Pacific air currents to penetrate inland. The area is also known for its characteristic red soils which impart character to the region's wines.
Grapes for the wine are hand picked and then gently pressed. The grapes are fermented in small lots in equal parts concrete, neutral French oak barrels, and small stainless steel vessels. The wine is aged on the lees for 9 months with regular, gentle stirring throughout fermentation and aging. The wine is racked off the lees prior to bottling.
The 2022 version of this wine is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (93%) and Semillon. We will be tasting this vintage during our upcoming Continuum tasting.
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