Bodkin’s Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from growers in Lake and Sonoma counties. A medium-bodied crowd-pleaser, the wine is relatively low in alcohol and bursts with refreshing citrus fruit flavors. The Bodkin winery recommends “live music, sunny days and fresh cuisine” as a suitable pairing. “To the victor go the spoils!” Wine lovers win out with this fresh and energetic Sauvignon Blanc.
Despite growing up in eastern Iowa in a non-drinking household, Christopher Christensen, the “winesmith and head honcho” at Bodkin Wines, caught the wine bug soon after graduating from Stanford University. But without preconceived notions about how to start and run a winery, Christensen does march to the beat of his own drummer. Guiding him has been the line “We few, we happy few,” from Shakespeare’s King Henry V, a play he loved so much that his labels depict the 15th century Battle of Agincourt and his winery is named for the type of arrow point that may have helped Henry defeat the French.
As a winery, Bodkin is no less unusual than the labels. For one thing, it’s built upon the labor of “one man, one dog, and an army of friends.” Christensen purchases most of his grapes from the Sandy Bend Vineyard in Lake County and makes his wines in space rented in Healdsburg. Odder still is the narrow focus on Sauvignon Blanc. But these Sauv Blancs are made in a variety of styles, some downright atypical if not unheard of. For example, Bodkin has released California’s first sparkling Sauvignon Blanc - a product Christensen learned to love in New Zealand. While sparkling Sauv Blanc isn’t likely to change California’s production of Methode Champenoise based on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it’s a delight nonetheless, reminding us that popping a cork needs no special occasion. Bodkin’s “The Victor’s Spoils” is Sauv Blanc in the traditional Loire style - unoaked, dry and moderate in alcohol. On the other hand, the “Musqué Clone” bottling features a clone of Sauvignon Blanc that’s planted in few California vineyards but offers unique aromatics and flavors. Finally, “The Albino” is another rule breaker: Sauvignon Blanc fermented on the skins and aged in oak like a red wine and bottled without fining or filtration. Orange-hued and bold in flavor, it alters one’s expectations for clean and correct California wine and suggests that a new generation of winemakers, like Chris Christensen of Bodkin, will be taking California wine in new directions.
Country | USA |
Region | California |
Appellation(s) | Sonoma County |
Winery | Bodkin Wines |
Vintage | 2020 |
Color | White |
Varietal(s) | Sauvignon Blanc |
Closure | Screw Cap |
Volume | 750ml |
Bottle Size | 7.5 x 30.5 |
Case Size | 31.5 x 23.5 x 31.5 |
Alcohol | 13.2% |
Product Code | BK20SB |
UPC | 810003090478 |
Aromas of pineapple and guava lead to a juicy smooth burst of tangerine and nectarine flavors on the palate. Crisp and well-balanced with tangy acidity providing a pleasant finish.
Fermented and aged in stainless steel with no secondary malolactic fermentation.