Lieff Wines

The nose on the 2009 Lieff Sauvignon Blanc absolutely soars. This wines aromatics show an abundant bouquet of white flowers with rich notes of spice, meyer lemon oil, and grass along with an exceptional, steely focus and surprise the nose with a subtle touch of mint. On the palate, this is more like an extremely pure and focused Sancerre crossed with a touch of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc than a California Sauvignon Blanc. As the wine hits your palate, there is an initial hit of sweetness that tapers smoothly to extremely bright, focused acidity. There are hints of honeydew melon, lemon grass, gunflint and pink grapefruit that winds down to a delicate sea spray-like quality. This wine shows well quite chilled, but seems to show its best about 15 minutes after being taken out of a cold ice bath or the refrigerator. This is an outstanding wine with food or to just sip while enjoying a warm summer evening.    

About Lieff Wines

Robert  Leiff first saw the Napa Valley in 1960 during the summer of his second year at Columbia Law and Business Schools when he came to the Valley to join migrant farm workers picking cherries. It was a powerful experience and he knew that someday he would return. In the 1970's, Robert learned the business hands on while operating a small vineyard in Sonoma where he and his family farmed, from the disking, pruning and picking of grapes to wine making. Later, he began to acquire property in the Oakville area of Napa, including, what is today, the Far Niente Winery. He was one of the two original founders of the winery who were joined by Gil Nickel in 1979. Robert was the Managing Partner of the Far Niente Vineyard.
He later became a founding partner of the Vichon Winery in Oakville where he planted and was responsible for the vineyard.
In 1997 Robert found our 22 acres of steeply wooded land above Rutherford Hill Road, across from the famed Auberge du Soleil. Robert walked every foot of the property, laying out the vineyards, home, pool and guesthouse.