2022 Picayune Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

Seven years ago, we had to fight off the likes of Gramercy Tavern and The French Laundry for our first tiny allocation of Picayune. Every year since, we’ve had to muscle out others for bigger and bigger allocations—which can never quite keep up with the Picayune fan base!

But today marks the first time we’ve been able to secure any of winemaker Claire Weinkauf’s stunning Sauvignon Blanc. The former right-hand-woman for 100-point legend Paul Hobbs, she’s capable of conjuring magical value from Napa—like this bottle—which is why her tasting room sells most of her output.

Fermented and aged in a mixture of stainless steel barrels and neutral French oak, it takes the lively vibrancy of the grape and adds a soupçon of richness that highlights its Napa origins—and elevates this bottle to a quality-level probably twice its current price.

Picayune’s astounding quality-to-price ratio is thanks to vintner Claire Weinkauf, whose résumé is as diverse as it is impressive. After earning a wine degree in Chile and working harvests in Saint-Émilion, she met 100-point winemaker Paul Hobbs, who hired her at the renowned Viña Cobos in Argentina and at his eponymous California winery. 

“Before anything, I’m a wine drinker,” Claire told us recently as she explained Picayune’s excellent price-to-quality ratio. “But when I got to California, I was shocked at how expensive good wines were. Picayune was born after too many bottles of really great, expensive wines. I want to drink really well, without declaring bankruptcy.”

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Sweetness
• Acidity

• ABV 13.50%
• Enjoy right away
• Now – 2026
• % Sauvignon Blanc
• Serving temperature – 48°
• Screw cap