100% Sauvignon Blanc; 300 cases produced

Tasting Notes

With our PEAK Sauvignon Blanc we seek to reflect our rugged mountain terroir in a refined, elegant, and age-worthy white wine. The grapes are sourced exclusively from 2 blocks of Sauvignon Blanc vines in our high-elevation Attelas Vineyard, which produces unique berries of intense fruit character and vibrant acidity.

Our high elevation on Atlas Peak allows for full sun throughout the day and cooler temperatures in the evening that is perfect for our Sauvignon Blanc. Described as “elegant,” “the great complexity of flavor,” and “finesse,” the 2017 vintage wines have received many accolades and the PEAK is no exception. The 2017 PEAK Sauvignon Blanc has a beautiful golden hue with an exquisite nose of citrus blossom, white grape9uit, and chervil. Hints of spice lead to a juicy, medium-bodied, beautifully balanced wine with re9eshing acidity and brilliant complexity. This wine shows beautifully now and will cellar nicely for several years. Drink now through 2022 or longer.

2017 Vintage Notes

The 2017 growing season started out with record precipitation providing vines with sufficient water tables to safely get them through several heat spikes that began as early as June and prior to the berries going through veraison. We usually see natural acidity maintained in our grapes due to our high elevation and as ripening often happens at a steady pace before most hot days occur late in the season.

Aided by naturally thicker skins and also the implementation of shade cloth in certain blocks, the early heat events therefore basically left us unaffected.  Patience was however required as vines tend to slow down at higher temperatures extending the berries’ phenolic ripening.

While prolonged temperatures of 110+F in early September prompted several winemakers to begin harvesting red varietals our winemaking team held steadfast and patiently waited until the beginning of October before bringing in the first red varietals. Rewarded then with more moderate temperatures, the resulting wines express themselves as both full-bodied, greatly structured, and with ample but supple tannin levels.

Reviews

Wine Advocate
“The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Peak unfurls to reveal fragrant lime blossoms and honeysuckle scents over a core of fresh grapefruit, lemon curd and crushed rocks plus a waft of baker's yeast. Medium to full-bodied, it bursts in the mouth with loads of citrus and mineral layers and a crisp, refreshing line with a very long, chalky finish. 2018 – 2025.” 93+ Points: An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines -Lisa Perrotti-Brown, October 2018

JebDunnuck.com
“The flagship white is the 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Peak, which is all Sauvignon Blanc sourced from the Atlas Peak AVA. This medium gold-colored effort offers a vibrant nose of citrus blossom, white grapefruit, and hints of spice in a juicy, medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, pure style. It’s a terrific Sauvignon Blanc from Napa that’s well worth drinking. Maturity 2019 – 2022.” 92 Points: Outstanding wines. These wines are outstanding for their type and are worth the extra effort to seeking out. -Jeb Dunnuck, January 2018

Forbes
“Acumen - A New Shining Star From Napa Valley”
“Recently I have tasted the releases of a relatively new Napa Valley winery that I believe will become, if not a household name, at least a name worth remembering. The winery is Acumen. As a lover of Sauvignon Blanc, I extend a heartfelt thank you to Poulsen and estate director Mark Castaldi for working with this varietal. The wines offer beautiful varietal character and excellent complexity, with the 2017 PEAK Sauvignon Blanc being a remarkable Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc. I’ve tasted only a few wines from Acumen, but let me repeat, this is an estate worth remembering. Keep an eye out for these wines.

2017 Acumen PEAK Sauvignon Blanc – Superb
Brilliant straw with golden tints; exquisite varietal aromas with subdued notes of chervil, snow pea and hay. Medium-full with excellent concentration and persistence. Lovely harmony, very good acidity and outstanding varietal purity. Very stylish, with brilliant complexity. Beautiful fruit and excellent cellar work combine to make this one of Napa Valley’s finest examples of Sauvignon Blanc. Enjoy over the next 3-5 years, perhaps longer.” -Tom Hyland, September 2019

Honest Cooking
“The 65 Best Summer Whites, Rosés and Sparklers”
“We took it upon ourselves to drink our way through hundreds of summer wines of various types, styles, and grapes – and we’ve compiled what we think is THE ULTIMATE list of the Best Summer Wines of 2020 that you should be drinking over the next couple of months. Brilliant straw with golden tints; exquisite varietal aromas with subdued notes of chervil, snow pea, and hay. Medium-full with excellent concentration and persistence. Lovely harmony, very good acidity, and outstanding varietal purity. Very stylish, with brilliant complexity. Beautiful fruit and excellent cellar work combine to make this one of Napa Valley’s finest examples of Sauvignon Blanc. Enjoy over the next 3-5 years, perhaps longer.” -Kalle Bergman, August 2020