2000 Cain Ventana Vineyard Musque (Sauvignon Blanc)

Cain Vineyard & Winery is in the Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley. It was founded in 1980 when Jerry and Joyce Cain purchased 550 acres, which was part of the historic McCormick Ranch on Spring Mountain. Their first vintage was 1985, and in 1986 Jim and Nancy Meadlock became partners. The Cains retired in 1991 and the Meadlocks are now full owners. The vineyard is relatively high at altitudes ranging from 1,400 to 2,100 feet along the crest of the Mayacamas Range. Cain makes red wines, and the flagship wine is Cain Five, an estate wine which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Cain Cuvee is a Merlot-based blend. Cain Concept is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend.

Monterey AVA is in Monterey County, south of San Francisco. The long, narrow appellation is a 100-mile ribbon of land that extends from north Monterey County south to the edge of Paso Robles. Most of the AVA is considerably inland from the Pacific Coast, and to the east of the Santa Lucia mountain range. About 40,000 vineyard acres are inside the AVA, making it one of California’s larger appellations. Monterey County, in fact, produces almost as much wine as Napa County because the floor of the valley is taken up by large industrial vineyards producing grapes for bulk wine. However, there are also many premier wine estates within Monterey AVA and its numerous sub-appellations. Monterey AVA includes four recognized micro climates, ranging from a cool, maritime climate at the north end to what is known in California as a Region 4 climate in the south, meaning relatively hot and dry. Monterey AVA includes parts of Carmel Valley and Salinas Valley. More than 50% of the grapes grown in the Monterey AVA are Chardonnay, though the many terroirs and micro climates mean that numerous grapes grow well. Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Zinfandel and Pinot Blanc are widely planted.

This crisp, dry white wine hails from France but is grown in wine regions around the world. In California, it is sometimes called Fume Blanc; while in Sauternes, it is a component of their famous dessert wines.