2023 J. Bucher Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley 750 ml

J. Bucher is situated along the famed Westside Road—the most famous wine route in the Russian River Valley. The estate began as a dairy farm in 1958, and since then, with the help of Bob Cabral (Williams Selyem, Three Sticks) as vineyard consultant, it has blossomed into one of the prime sites in the Russian River—and it’s got some famous neighbors. 

Immediately to the north of Bucher’s vineyards is Flowers. To the south are J. Rochioli, Williams Selyem, and Gary Farrell, among other boldface names.

While the area is world-renowned for Burgundian varieties, the relatively dry area produces fantastic Sauvignon Blanc. This 2023 comes from a plot of vines planted back in the 1970s by one of the pioneering families of the “Middle Reach” of Russian River Valley. Since Bucher leased these vines for years—they were farmed by John Bucher himself—this very wine has historically been bottled as “Bucher Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc. The 2023 comes from the same exact vines, but since the lease has technically expired, it’s labeled “Russian River Valley.”

This is a scintillating Sauvignon Blanc of depth and zestiness, born of the area’s dramatic diurnal temperature swings. They trigger the generation of phenolic material for complex flavor profiles, while the cool, foggy mornings preserve the acidity so vital to the brightness we crave in the grape.

In 2023, a cool, wet start to the year led to delays throughout the growing season. Picking came about three weeks later than usual—October 6th for the Sauvignon Blanc. The extended hangtime allowed the low-yielding vines to concentrate extraordinary flavor intensity in the grapes. The wine was finished in neutral French oak barrels for four months.