Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Variety the Spice of Life; Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is always light to medium body and it can be fruity and/or herbaceous, it can be oak aged or not.  No matter where it is grown and what the wine maker may do to it; Sauvignon Blanc will always be DISTINCTIVE. This grape can be pretty wild in it's flavor expression and makes some of the most exciting and entertaining wines!

Flavors Commonly Experienced :
  • Herbal  
  • Grassy
  • Grapefruit 
  • Lemon / Lime
  • Fig  
  • Hay
  • Vanilla  Oak / Butter
Sauvignon Blanc is native to France and most likely to the Loire Valley or Bordeaux.   The vine most likely gets its name from the French word sauvage "wild" and blanc "white."  The vine itself has a fairly wild personality, it grows with abandon if not trellised and pruned diligently. Classic Sauvignon Blanc is from Bordeaux, labeled as Bordeaux Blanc and Graves AOCs, customarily blended with Sémillon and Muscadelle to add friendly fruit flavors, and sometimes treated to oak aging. In the Loire Valley of France it makes wine that is flinty with pronounced mineral flavors. Sauvignon Blanc from California is bright, grassy and grapefruity. And, the best ones come from New Zealand where the long slow growing season helps the wine become vibrant, high acid, pungent and fruity wine.

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