Dont forget Sauv Blanc!
Too many people, if you say you want a white wine, they think Chardonnay. And while the Chardonnays of many vineyards are delightful, many others are awkward, sour, or overpowering. These latter ones and the somewhat unpredictability of the varietal have caused me to search for an alternative, a more reliable alternative, to the ubiquitous Chardonnay. I should say here that most California Chardonnays are absolutely wonderful, well-crafted wines with nuanced and multi-layered flavors. However, there are those others.
How I enjoyed my first Sauvignon Blanc?
It was a summer evening, dinner was a light pasta salad with vegetables, feta, black olives, and fresh tomatoes in olive oil and garlic dressing. I had chilled the wine thoroughly and popped the cork. Pouring myself a small portion, I sampled the noise of the wine and was greeted by an amazing freshness of citrus. The smell was so specific and strong that I was startled at the strength of the grapefruit scent and had to know if it extended to the flavor of the wine.
I took a small bit in my mouth and breathed in over it. While the flavor was full of grapefruit, it was not overpoweringly. In fact, this was an absolutely charming wine with power, nuance, and grace. The citrus quality provided a freshness that I can barely describe.
My experiences with Sauvignon Blanc
I have sampled many vineyards’ Sauvignon Blanc offerings and found them to have varying degrees of success. Frankly, my experience has been that Chile produces drinkable, but inferior bottles of this variety, while California seems to have mastered the graces of this delightful grape.
Final thoughts
Frankly, this variety has become my one of the regions favorite and I seek it in all its forms whenever I can. I encourage you to try it with a nice, light chicken dinner or avocado salad.
More Wine Stuff: