Sentium Sauvignon Blanc 2023 750ml

Product Info

91pts Wine Advocate
Hints of crushed stone and struck match mark the nose of Sentium's 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, which contains a dash of Sémillon (1%). Fermented and aged in a mix of used French oak, concrete and stainless steel, it's a dry, stony wine, medium-bodied and streamlined on the palate, given just enough flesh through hints of fig and stone fruit and enlivened by lingering notes of white grapefruit and lemon on the finish. Drink Date: 2025 – 2030 Published: Jun 12, 2025 Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski

Terroir & Vineyard

• The fruit is sourced from organically-farmed old-vine blocks (planted in the 1940s–1960s) in the Mendocino AVA.
• The sites are family-owned and chosen for their low-intervention farming and expressive soils.
• Soil types: While specific vineyard names aren’t always published, the emphasis is on soils that enable “crushed-stone” minerality and clarity of flavour. The technical notes mention “crushed stone-driven aromatics”.
• Climate: Mendocino’s North Coast setting offers cool coastal influences (even in inland sites), which help maintain acidity in the Sauvignon Blanc and preserve freshness. The vineyard selection prioritises blocks that retained acidity and tension.
• Vineyard philosophy: The producers speak of “a gentle hand in the cellar to protect and honour the expression the site is giving us.”

Winemaking

• The blend is 99% Sauvignon Blanc and 1% Sémillon.
• Fermentation and ageing use a mix of vessels: concrete, large-format neutral oak and stainless steel, with 10 months sur-lie ageing.
• Alcohol is 13%.
• The intent is a refined, vineyard-driven Sauvignon Blanc that departs from typical tropical-style SB, offering more minerality, texture and longevity.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Pale straw with luminous clarity.
• Nose: Bright citrus (Meyer lemon, lime zest), honeysuckle and subtle white-flower aromas, anchored by crushed stone / wet-rock mineral notes.
• Palate: Medium-bodied, lively acidity, flavors of green apple, white nectarine, lychee and a clear saline/stone-driven thread. The texture is smooth and satiny, with a long saline-mineral finish.
• Finish: Persistent, mouth-watering with a lingering note of citrus peel and flint/rock minerality. A strong sense of tension and clarity.

Drinking Window & Serving Suggestions

• The wine is beautifully drinkable now, especially for those who appreciate precision and elegance in white wines.
• It also has the structure to age — reviewers suggest it can evolve gracefully for 8-10 years or more under good cellaring.
• Serving temperature: ~9-11 °C (48-52 °F) is ideal to highlight the aromatics and minerality.
• Pairings:
• Fresh oysters or scallops with a lemon-vinaigrette
• Grilled sea bass or halibut with herb-butter or citrus-herb sauce
• Soft goat cheese crostini or mild shaved pecorino with apple slices
• Asian-inspired dishes: sashimi, ceviche, or light Thai green curry — the wine’s crispness and mineral edge will complement the flavours.