Lioco Wines - Sauvignon Blanc Lolonis Vineyard Redwood Valley 2022 750ML (13.1% abv)

This historic Prohibition-era ranch boasts some of the 
oldest known vitis vinifera plantings in California. This 
Sauvignon Blanc, planted in 1942, may very well be the 
oldest SB in the country. The vines are head-trained 
and have been dry-farmed organically since planting on 
red clay soils strewn with fist-sized rocks. At 31 miles 
from the coast and 850ft. elevation, an extreme diurnal 
shift necessitates longer hang times (and a steady 
temperament). The vineyard is overseen by 
husband/wife duo Denise + Athan Poulos.

As the drought persists in Northern California, the 
octogenarians lording over the Lolonis Vineyard soldier 
on. Drought years always yield concentrated wines. 
Drought years from very old, dry-farmed vines take it to 
the next level. This is next level Sauvignon Blanc. We 
picked these miniaturized golden berries on the 
morning of September 9th, and whole cluster pressed 
them into stainless steel and one cigar-shaped barrel 
(thank you for the inspiration, Didier Dagueneau). The 
wine took a long, long time to ferment on its wild 
yeasts, but at last gave us a deeply mineral expression 
of soil with mere hints of white fruit and flowers. There 
may be no better accompaniment from our cellar with 
fresh oysters.

Winemaker: Drew Huffine
Production: 119 cases
Anticipated maturity: 2024-2028+?
pH: 3.28
Brix: 21.4°
Total acidity: 6.9 g/L
Yield: 1 T/acre
Clones: SB1 ala Château d'Yquem 
Harvest date: 9/28
Bottling date: 2/14/202

region

varietal

style

farming/cellar

2.193 tons of micro-sized clusters were hand-harvested 
on Sept 28. Fruit was whole-cluster pressed into a mix 
of neutral oak puncheons, cigar-shaped barrels, and 
stainless steel drums. Aged for 6 months on the lees 
before being bottled unfiltered.

pairing