2023Olsen Sauvignon Blanc
2023Olsen Sauvignon Blanc
The 2023 Tenor Olsen Sauvignon Blanc is a single vineyard wine from the Yakima Valley AVA. The winemaking team collaborated with our vineyard manager to restrict yields, resulting in small, concentrated berries. Cool fall nights preserved the wine's freshness while allowing continued flavor development. Hand-harvesting occurred in the early mornings of late September.
Upon arrival at the winery, the fruit was hand-sorted and whole-cluster pressed. The juice was transferred to tanks and cold-settled for 24 hours. The clarified juice was then racked into 65% new French oak. Barrel fermentation was kept at a very slow pace, lasting several months. After fermentation, the wine rested until racking in Spring 2024. Only 3 barrels were made, blended and bottled (unfined and unfiltered) in September 2024, yielding a mere 77 cases.
Tasting Notes
This Sauvignon Blanc presents a sun-kissed straw to goldenrod hue. The nose is rich with orange blossom honey, dried apricot, crème brûlée, lanolin, and chamomile. On the palate, marmalade, saffron, cool honeydew, candied ginger, and elderflower unfold. The mouthfeel is decadently plush, with a broad, enveloping texture. While tension from texture and acidity is present, the richness takes center stage. The finish lingers with oyster shell minerality, praline’s nutty sweetness, and bright lemon curd.
Labeled Appellation
Varietal Composition
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Awards & Accolades
"The 2023 Tenor [Olsen] Sauvignon Blanc comes from this slightly cooler site set in the Yakima Valley. Vines for this wine are located in the higher portion of the vineyard. The aromatics are gorgeous with passion fruit and mango giving this an exotic feel. The palate is weightless and dense with beautiful freshness. This is nothing short of a stunning new bottling that has some really good aging potential."
- 96 points, Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
"“The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Olsen Vineyard was matured for 11 months in 65% new French oak. It has gregarious scents of candied peaches, apricot, exotic spices, tropical flowers and tarragon. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated and satiny. Its generous, honeyed flavors are balanced by vibrant acidity, and it has a very long, layered finish. A total of 77 cases were made, and it will be released in May of 2025.”"
-95 points, Erin Brooks, The Wine Advocate
"“Tropical melon and florals give way to a dusting of confectionary spice, wet stones and mint accents as the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Spice Cabinet??? Vineyard blossoms in the glass. Silken and pliant, the 2023 seems to hover across the palate, graceful and finessed yet still potent and impactful, with masses of mineral-inflected orchard fruit. Pleasantly chewy, the 2023 resonates with tension, as a lemony concentration lingers over a crunchy layer of minerality. This is easily one of the top Sauvignon Blancs that I've tasted from Washington State.”"
-93 points, Eric Guido, Vinous
"“This white is something different, exhibiting exuberant honeysuckle, acacia honey, dried apricots, lemon curd, yellow-fleshed nectarines and candied ginger. Round, full-bodied and luscious, it’s concentrated with a honeyed character while remaining dry. Made from low-yielding vines with a proportion of botrytised grapes. Drink now or hold.”"
-93 points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
