Honig, Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Napa Valley 2021

92 points, James Suckling

At the age of 22, Michael Honig took the reins of his struggling family vineyard and winery. With an old meat locker for an office, a shoebox marked “Misc” for an accounting system, and without any formal training, he began canvassing the streets of San Francisco, selling wine and delivering it himself.

Over the last 30 years, Michael has surrounded himself with an incredible team, and transformed the family business into a thriving success. With his seemingly endless energy, Michael, often referred to as “the James Brown of the wine industry,” spends 75% of his time out in the world connecting with people and introducing them to Honig wines.

A leader in sustainable farming, he chaired the first California initiative to develop a “Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices,” a voluntary program establishing statewide guidelines for sustainable farming and winemaking, and in 2005, took part in an innovative pilot program to help train yellow lab puppies to detect vine mealy bugs in the vineyard, thus, lowering the need for pesticides. Michael sits on the board of directors of the Napa Valley Vintners Association, as well as the boards of several other organizations including: the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance; California Farm Service Agency State Committee; Napa Crimestoppers; and Tower Road Wine Storage.

The Reserve Sauvignon Blanc comes from 100% Honig Estate Fruit: 96% Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Semillon.

62% of the blend was selected from lots that were fermented in stainless steel tanks. The remainder of the blend was fermented in new, specially selected, French oak barrels and puncheons. The barrel fermented portion of the blend underwent a secondary (malolactic) fermentation.

68% aged on the lees for 8 months in French oak puncheons 32% aged on the lees for 8 months in new French oak barrels and puncheons

Floral notes ranging from honeysuckle to orange blossom are wrapped in peach and exotic citrus tones. The extraordinary interplay between fruit and oak creates a richly textured mid-palate that is seamlessly balanced on solid acidity and minerality. The lengthy finish includes notes of vanilla bean and ruby grapefruit. This remarkable example of an ageable Sauvignon Blanc can be enjoyed now through 2026 and beyond.