Sauvignon Blanc is becoming a bit too popular. I keep waiting for someone to come up with a “Housewives of Beverly Swills” bottle of Sweet Sauvignon, or possibly a White Sauvignon (you know, like a White Zinfandel). Thankfully, that hasn’t happened yet. Maybe the growing love of this grape won’t jump the shark. And that would be a good thing.
This is a bottle that I am using at the Wine School for our Wine 101 classes. It is varietally correct (i.e., it tastes and smells like a Sauvignon Blanc is supposed to) and has a great quality-to-price ratio.
The wine is closer to the New Zealand model than the French. It offers up grapefruit and a hint of gooseberry. There is a clear note of lemon zest along with a spike of pineapple on the palate. The finish moves toward fresh grass, white pepper, and apple skin.
There is a richer quality than expected here, which may be due to aging in old oak barrels for about a half year before bottling.