26 Jan Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Abbot’s Passage 2019 Noontide, Vadasz Vineyard, Sonoma Valley

Winemakers talk about clones when talking about Pinot Noir to consumers but clones are rarely spoken about with other grape varieties. That is why I was intrigued by the Abbot’s Passage 2019 Noontide. A blend of two Sauvignon Blanc clones, the Abbot’s Passage 2019 Noontide from the Vadasz Vineyard in Sonoma Valley is the Please The Palate wine of the week. Wine clones are created when a cutting is taken from a single parent plant and grafted onto existing rootstock. These new vines are genetically identical to the mother vine they were cut from but as time passes, these new vines develop their own unique characteristics related to where they are planted. Sixth-generation vintner Katie Bundschu founded Abbot’s Passage to explore unique blends and while the 2019 Noontide is a Sauvignon Blanc, it is actually a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc Musque, which are cofermented. The Musqué clone, also called “Savagnin musque”, originally came from Bordeaux, France. It came to the US in 1962 and was the second most planted clone. The clone was almost extinct but was revitalized by Monterey County grape growers in the Arroyo Seco AVA and today it is thriving. The Abbot’s Passage 2019 Noontide is 97% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Sauvignon Blanc Musque, which add to the aromatics. The wine is a pale yellow color with vibrant citrus, melon, and floral aromas. On the palate, the wine is creamy and round midpalate and finishes with chalky minerality. There were only 158 cases released of the Abbot’s Passage 2019 Noontide which retails for $24. I encourage you to enjoy this refreshing and fun white wine!