The wines Tom discovered in France during his travels as a young man inspired his senses deeply, and a love affair with Sauvignon Blanc was born. His mind stirred with contemplation: what would it take to craft a Sauvignon Blanc of equal pedigree at home in Napa Valley? The answer now lies in a block of vines at the center of our Gamble Vineyard in Yountville – the Heart Block.
Tom planted 12 vineyard acres in 1998 to clones representing two regions of France: Sauvignon Musque from the Loire Valley, and a cutting from Bordeaux, referred to as the Preston clone.
Classic growing conditions for Sauvignon Blanc are enhanced by loamy clay soils, low elevations inviting fog and mist to linger later into the morning, and afternoon shade from the nearby hills. Harvested from a single cluster per vine shoot for pristine quality, Heart Block is aged 18-20 months in French oak and bottled unfiltered. This wine’s complexity and rarity are testaments to Tom’s love for international white wines.