Summer 2011 Host's Guide: Barbecue Bonanza
Spring Mountain Vineyard 2009 Sauvignon Blanc
The 845-acre estate on Napa Valley’s Spring Mountain is home to three historic 19th-century wineries: La Perla, established by Charles Lemme in 1873; Chateau Chevalier, founded by Fortune Chevalier, a Frenchman who had come to California during the Gold Rush, and Miravalle, the home of Tiburcio Parrott, a friend of the Beringer brothers. In 1974, this last property became Spring Mountain Vineyard, whose present owner combined all three estates in the early 1990s. The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc shows aromas of citrus blossom, jasmine and fresh bay leaf, while flavors of grapefruit, peach and apricot lead to a long, crisp mineral finish that marries beautifully with the shrimp ceviche and pimento cheese croquette appetizers. ($40)