Stratus White 2010

The 2010 Stratus white is a blend of about 2/3 semillon and sauvignon, with 1/4 viognier and the balance in chardonnay. The nose offers intense, late-harvest-like aromatics of dried peaches and apricots, marmalade, guava and melon, watermelon, with intense violet and other floral perfume; wood is not a significant influence, adding a light lactic-creamy, lemon custard layer - great complexity overall. The palate is fullish and rich, creamy and round yet balanced by brisk underlying acids; this has layers of complexity and terrific depth, all in the somewhat idiosyncratic house style. In my view, this is perhaps the best Stratus white to date, at least the one with the most marked and original personality. This can be enjoyed now, but I'd wait 2-4 years for additional savoury complexity to develop - this is not about the fruit in any case. Tasted October 2013. Score - 93. (John Szabo, M.S., winealign.com, Nov. 12, 2013)