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Kriselle Cellars 2019 Sauvignon Blanc
The richness of the Rogue Valley
On a cold, clear December day we met with Scott Steingraber, owner and winemaker at Kriselle Cellars in their gorgeous tasting room in White City, Oregon; just outside of Medford. The view of the valley – rolling hills, herds of cattle, and row upon row of wine grapes – was stunning.
An Oregonian, his career as a civil engineer for very large construction projects took Scott and his family to San Francisco and Seattle – where he explored wine country and started experimenting with winemaking. In 2003, Scott moved home to Oregon and started a winery on the land owned by his wife, Krisell, and her family.
The vineyard, part of the working Buxton Ranch, is tucked between the Rogue River and the famous Upper Table Rock. The soil of the vineyard is loaded with river rock, which makes the vines struggle and brings lots of heat to the grapes – producing strong fruit and intense flavors. When you taste this wine, you’re tasting the warmth of Southern Oregon, the richness of the Rogue, and Scott’s journey through the great wine countries of the West Coast.
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Kriselle Cellars, White City, Oregon
2019 Sauvignon Blanc
I’ve been waiting several years for Kriselle Cellars to increase production enough on this wine that we could include it in the club – and my waiting has paid off!
This is a more elegant French-style Sauvignon Blanc; not the over-the top mouth-full-of-grass-clippings Sauvignon Blanc that you’ll find sometimes. There is still a wonderful herbal quality to be found, but it is nicely balanced with zippy fresh lime and grapefruit. And on the palate, you’ll get passionfruit, lychee, and pineapple.
This is a really food-friendly wine with lots of acidity and a hint of creaminess. Great with scallops, prawns, and oysters.
A Cellar 503 selection in January 2021, Winter Warmers Rogue Valley | Sauvignon Blanc
