2008 Quintessa, 'Illumination' Sauvignon Blanc Napa Sonoma 750ml

Wine Enthusiast 95 pts and an Editors' Choice: "This is a blend of 92% Sauvignon Blanc and 8% Semillon. It was partially barrel-fermented and then aged on the lees. It is a very great example of its genre, one of the best in memory. Shows intricate layers of Meyer lemons, kefir limes and white peaches, offset by crisp acidity and minerals but softened with buttercream and buttered toast. A vibrant, immaculate wine, one of the Sauvignon Blanc stars of the vintage." (April 2010)

From the winery: "It’s the harmonious complexity that makes Illumination such a distinctive white wine, and a true expression of Quintessa. Aged in five different types of vessels, it is a wine of layered flavors held in perfect, lively tension: the fresh, bright fruit of Sauvignon Blanc and the savory minerality of Sémillon that anchors Illumination to the earth, all wrapped in a rich, creamy texture. It is also a white wine that ages beautifully and continues to reveal aspects of itself over time.

The precision that goes into crafting Illumination recalls the inspiration for both its name and label. Each is a reference to The Book of Kells, the Medieval illuminated manuscript created by 9th-century Irish monks, who meticulously painted the masterpiece’s sacred text and swirling iconography over several years."