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ARTISAN WINE & SPIRITS · MOUNTAIN VIEW
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★ The French Laundry's By-the-Glass Sauv Blanc · Only 2,600 Cases ★
Hourglass Estate 2024 · JD 94 · JS 94 · VM 90 · Lowest Price in the Country
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HOURGLASS ESTATE · NAPA & SONOMA · TONY BIAGI
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Sub-$35 · Double 94 Points
The French Laundry's
By-the-Glass Sauv Blanc.
Now Poured at Home.
James Suckling: "This is DIVINE." Jeb Dunnuck: "Outstanding length. Beautifully balanced."
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94
Jeb Dunnuck
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94
James Suckling
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90
Vinous
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Only 2,600 cases produced. Winery MSRP $50. Ours: $34.97 — lowest price in the country.
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Dear Artisans,
Even if we can't all dine at The French Laundry as often as we'd like, we can still enjoy their recent By-the-Glass Sauvignon Blanc — at the lowest price in the country.
2,600 cases were produced worldwide. Hourglass sells it direct at $50. We're pouring it into your cellar at $34.97 — a full $15 less than winery, and less than a single glass at any of the Michelin rooms currently pouring it.
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The Full Reviews
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94 Points · Jeb Dunnuck
"Based on 86% Sauvignon Blanc/Musque and 14% Semillon from Napa and Sonoma County fruit and aged six months with 30% in oak barrels, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc offers classic, fresh lime, ripe citrus, mint, and stony minerality aromatics. It's medium-bodied, has a bright, fresh, focused, pure mouthfeel, beautiful balance, and outstanding length. There are roughly 2,600 cases produced. Drink 2025-2035."
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94 Points · James Suckling
"This is a divine and mineral-driven white with aromas of sliced lemons, white pepper, lime leaves and jalapenos. The palate is taut and focused, with a generous underlying texture and bright acidity. A well-balanced wine that's 86% sauvignon blanc and 14% semillon. Drink or hold."
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90 Points · Vinous
"The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is an airy, gracious, aperitif-style white drink now and over the next few years. Citrus peel, sage, tomato leaf and mint are all finely sculpted."
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⚠ Only 2,600 Cases Made Worldwide ⚠
The French Laundry pours this by the glass. So do a small handful of Michelin rooms across California. Beyond that, it's on allocation.
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The History of Hourglass
Blind-Tasted Beside Screaming Eagle,
Harlan, and Bryant.
Then Sold Out in Days.
Hourglass's inaugural Cabernet release came with the 1997 vintage — a seminal Napa vintage by many critics' standards. The new brand was catapulted to instant renown at a tasting held just before the 2001 Napa Valley Wine Auction, organized by David Stevens, then wine director of Tra Vigne restaurant and now proprietor of 750 Wines.
The "cult tasting" featured a flight of 1997 vintage Cabernets that Robert Parker had scored 100 points: Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, and Bryant Family. Driven by David's mischievous sense of humor, he threw Hourglass into the lineup as a precocious ringer. To the astonished tasters — none of whom had heard of Hourglass, as none had yet been released — it held its own alongside the cult giants.
The buzz was immediate. News of the tasting hit the Internet. Within days, a wine that was not even for sale was sold out. Since then, the Hourglass Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has built a steadfast following — and the estate's small-production white program has grown into what you're seeing on this page.
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The Winemaking Lineage
From Bob Foley to Tony Biagi.
Hourglass was originally made by Bob Foley — the winemaker behind Pride Mountain, Switchback Ridge, and Paloma. He handed the reins to Tony Biagi, of PlumpJack and Cade fame.
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"Biagi has proven he has the magic touch when it comes to making modern, sumptuous Napa Valley Cabernets of the highest level. Not only has Biagi made a meaningful difference at every estate where he has been in charge (PlumpJack, Hourglass), he has also shown a talent for grooming winemakers who have eventually taken over day-to-day winemaking at his projects (PlumpJack, Sinegal) and for helping turning around estates entirely, most notable at Clos du Val, but also Amici, all while making tremendous wines at Patria, his own label."
— Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
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"Coming after Bob Foley, Tony Biagi had big shoes to fill. Tony has filled those shoes, wore them bare, and bought a new pair. A lot has changed since 2012. The wines are still concentrated with a lot of fruit on offer, but they are also brighter, purer, better defined, and with rock-solid backbones for aging."
— Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW
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Lowest Price in the Country
Winery MSRP $50.00
$34.97
Per Bottle · 16 Available · Max 6 Per Customer
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Also on the Shelf
More American Sauv Blancs
Our Best-Sellers of the Summer.
Six more American Sauv Blancs your fellow Artisans are pouring right now.
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Six-Critic Best-Seller · Sonoma County
Aperture Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Jesse Katz · Ex-Petrus, Ex-Screaming Eagle.
WE 94 · JD 94 · DM 94 · WA 93 · JS 93 · WS 92
Wine Enthusiast's Editor's Choice: "among the best Sauvignon Blancs out there. Period." Jesse Katz's Haut-Brion-inspired Sonoma white, blended with 18% Sémillon and aged in French oak, cement, and Haut-Brion Acacia barrels.
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The Grande Dame of California Pinot · Russian River
Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Russian River Valley.
TP 95 · WS 94 · JS 93 · WE 93 · WA 92 · JD 92 · DM 92
Fermented in French oak with twice-weekly lees stirring — the California standard-bearer for barrel-fermented Sauv Blanc. Tropical, creamy, wave-length long. Only 6 bottles left with us.
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Rudd Estate's Little Sister · Mt. Veeder
Rudd "Crossroads" Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley.
JS 94
100% estate biodynamic Mt. Veeder fruit, aged in a mix of neutral French oak, concrete, new French oak, and terra cotta amphorae. Suckling: "a refreshing, mineral white." 77% Sauv Blanc / 23% Sémillon.
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Stags Leap District · Michel Rolland Consulting
Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Napa Valley.
DM 94 · JS 91 · WS 90
Fruit from Calistoga, Stags Leap, Carneros, and old-vine Rutherford Musqué clone. Barrel-fermented in 86% French oak (29% new). Decanter: "great mid-palate richness marked by bright minerality and lemon zest, with elegant orange peel and subtle marzipan."
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Napa Valley Royalty · Made by Philippe Melka
Lail Vineyards "Blueprint" Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Napa Valley.
JS 93 · VM 92
From Robin Daniel Lail (Inglenook heritage, co-founded Dominus and Merryvale) with cult winemaker Philippe Melka. Galloni: "Bright, crisp and inviting... the 2024 is flat-out delicious."
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The Sub-$20 Value Pick · Sancerre Style
Mauritson Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Dry Creek Valley · Sonoma.
WA 93 · WE 92
Six generations of Dry Creek farming, and Sancerre-style Sauv Blanc under $20. Half stainless, half 75hL foudre. Only 1,000 cases produced. Wine Advocate: "compelling flinty streaks, a long, shimmery finish."
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Every American Sauv Blanc We Carry
Napa, Sonoma, Russian River, Dry Creek, Mt. Veeder — the full Sauv Blanc shelf, on one page.
Shop the Full Sauv Blanc Collection →
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Dear Artisans,
If The French Laundry chose it for their by-the-glass list, and it's under $35, and it's double-94 from Suckling and Dunnuck — that's the summer white. Only 2,600 cases exist. We have 16.
Reply to this email if you'd like a mixed Sauv Blanc six-pack pulled from the whole shelf — we'll build one to your taste (barrel-fermented, stainless, Sancerre-style, or a spread).
To French Laundry pours at home,
James Tran
Artisan Wine & Spirits · Mountain View, CA
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Artisan Wine & Spirits · 2495 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View, CA 94043
Text 650-880-3553 · sales@artisan.wine · artisan.wine
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