Sauvignon Gris 2021

Production

Sauvignon Gris may be the most obscure variety grown in Bordeaux (only 2-3% of white grape acreage is devoted to Sauvignon Gris) and is still a rarity in this country.  It has most traditionally been used as a blender with Sauvignon Blanc.  Here at Boxwood, the Sauvignon Gris is grown in two different vineyard blocks.  Once again this was the variety picked first to begin the vintage. In 2021 the fruit was selectively hand-harvested into lugs (hand carried boxes holding about 25 lbs. of fruit) on August 26^th and 31^st, with a third and final pass on September 13^th to gather the later ripening clusters. 

This fruit was chilled overnight, then sorted and whole clusters were pressed with the juice going directly to stainless-steel tanks for settling and fermentation.  To maintain the natural aromas of the grapes and preserve the variety’s fresh flavors, the wine was fermented slowly at a cool 58°F.  The wine was then aged and occasionally stirred on the light lees (yeasty sediment) to help build more body and richness into the mid-palate.

Fortunately, 2021 provided us with another good vintage and plentiful fruit so that we’re able to bottle our third consecutive varietal Sauvignon Gris.  This grape is traditionally used to enhance a Sauvignon Blanc blend; this time we have reversed the roles and use Sauvignon Blanc to enrich the Gris.