Tasting a Winter White
It’s winter in Central New York, so on a snowy Thursday night we headed out to taste wine at a favorite local shop with a gregarious owner who serves as part wine expert and part standup comedian. We were treated to a fun evening of wine tasting at his cozy store with vintage wood floors and large racks of wine from all over the world, which would be a bit overwhelming if he wasn’t ready and willing to take the time to act as your unassuming guide. Although the wine is better than the jokes (sorry, I couldn’t resist), I think most people would feel comfortable even if, like us, they are not a wine expert.
With the owner’s help, we decided to try Sauvignon Blanc, one of Carolyn’s favorites. Sauvignon Blanc, which has become very popular over the last twenty years or so, is a white wine typically with a crisp, citrusy flavor. Fans of this variety are growing. According to wine expert Brian Freedman, writing for Food & Wine Magazine, Sauvignon Blanc has wide appeal due to the fact that “it is produced in a broad range of styles, from fruit-forward, ripe, and sometimes even tropical to more vegetal and linear. In that way, it has the ability to appeal to a wide range of wine lovers. In terms of Sauvignon Blanc price points, it’s possible to find cheerful, bang-for-the-buck bottles for under $15, as well as age-worthy ones that climb into the triple figures.” As you know, this group of wine tasters loves a good bottle under $25.
When it comes to flavors, Freedman explains “Sauvignon Blanc typically showcases fruit on the citrus end of the spectrum, most notably grapefruit, though lemon, lime, and kumquat are not uncommon. Warmer-climate examples may lean in a more tropical direction with their fruit notes. A counterpoint of grassiness or bell pepper is also likely, a result of a compound in the grape itself called pyrazine.”
New Zealand is home to some of the most popular Sauvignon Blanc producers. Haley Mercedes, writing for Wine Folly Magazine, explains what you can expect from a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc: “On the nose, expect pungent in-your-face aromas ranging from freshly cut grass, peas, and asparagus to tropical and ripe passionfruit, grapefruit or even mango. On the palate, the wines taste light bodied with racy acidity and moderate alcohol.”
While the New Zealand variety is known for a punch of citrus flavors, the Chilean version of Sauvignon Blanc is milder. Writing for Quench Magazine, Andre Proulx opines that “the Chilean bottles [of Sauvignon Blanc] offer something that is often lacking from the Kiwi [New Zealand] wines – restraint and subtlety. These bottles offer a nice balance of tropical fruit with savoury flavours and aromas.”
Let’s turn to our wines for this month. To recap our novice approach to tasting: none of us is a wine expert but we know what we like and are happy to share our unbiased opinion with you. To keep things consistent, we developed our own unique rating system: pass, glass, bottle, case; you can interpret it as 1, 2, 3, and 4 stars.
Babick Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand)
Not everyone enjoys the strong acidic flavors of Sauvignon Blanc and Pam, who enjoys a wide variety of wines, just didn’t appreciate the strong grapefruit and high acidic flavors. The rest of the tasters enjoyed this one. Carolyn, Kate, and Eileen enjoyed the fruity, slightly acidic taste, as did Kathy who described it as “full bodied with a long finish and lots of citrus.”
Wine Maker: The wine perfumed and lifted with notes of mandarin, and spice with black currant, honeydew melon, and apple. Soft lime entry soon joined by riper citrus and florals. Apple and green kiwifruit and sweet spice lingers. Lively and expressive with a medium weight and a fine texture. Layers of fruit distributed across the entire palate.
Retail Cost: $15
Rating: Buy a CASE
Thresher Sauvignon Blanc (Central Valley, Chile)
While Kate and Kathy preferred the first bottle, Carolyn and Eileen liked both bottles but favored the Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, finding the flavors a bit more subtle with less acidity. Eileen said she thought the flavors were “a bit more balanced and could imagine drinking it in Summer with fish or chicken off the grill.”
Wine Maker: Bright and vibrant unfiltered wine with no oak, just crisp tropical flavors and hints of lemon zest, kiwi, and grapefruit. This is a versatile wine that will pair well with everything from veggies to chicken.
Retail Cost: $13
Rating: Buy a BOTTLE
Cheers to all from Kathy, Kate, Pam, Carolyn, and Eileen.
Kathy Doner | Kate Fauci | Pam Romeo | Carolyn Brown
