2023 Semillon

Whitehall Lane is proud to showcase this extraordinary example of Semillon from our Bommarito Vineyard from Rutherford. Semillon is typically a blender in Bordeaux whites, a powerful dessert wine from the Sauternes region of France, or a singular wine from the Hunter Valley of Australia. Our Semillon was whole cluster pressed, then sent to neutral French oak for a native yeast fermentation in two large format 1,000 L Seguin Moreau barrel fermenters. Once the barrel fermentation finishes, we allow the wine to age sur lies (on the lees) and perform battonage (stirring) for four months. The stirring of the barrels promotes mid-palate enhancement and texture building within the wine. At blending, a portion of Sauvignon Blanc was blended back to balance out the Semillon and create a unique palate and finish.

The 2023 vintage is being hailed the “vintage of a lifetime”. Winter and Spring brought roughly forty inches of rain, which provided a boost for Napa Valley. This vintage moved California out of a drought and into a good position for years to come. Budbreak arrived 2 weeks later than 2022 due to the spring rain events. The moisture in the soil led to a perfect flowering condition in the vineyard. The vines, as a result, provided a nice, even crop with perfect fruit set for the grape clusters. Summer was moderately warm, allowing the grapes on the vine to develop slowly. Autumn had a few hot days that pushed the vines into perfect maturity, leading to a late harvest season. The consistent summer weather encouraged our Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes to ripen on September 12th.