Sauvignon Blanc (Full Version)

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nyindallas -> Sauvignon Blanc (5/9/2012 7:12:43 PM)

Over the years I have tried a number of Sauvignon Blanc's. Nothing to really write home about. Even some white Bordeaux's in the under $30 range never did much for me.

This all changed the last 2 days. We had 2 inexpensive Savignon Blanc's, 1 from New Zealand 2010 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc and 1 from Chile a 2011 Oveja Negra Sauvignon Blanc/Carmenere Reserva. These 2 wines had amazing balance, were smooth as silk, were refreshing with a fresh white grapefruit over minerals taste. I can't believe it took all these years to actually enjoy this variety to the fullest.

Would appreciate recommendations for Savignon Blanc's in the fresh grapefruit style I described. Can't help but wonder if any white Bordeaux's would fit the bill. Thanks



grafstrb -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/9/2012 7:14:22 PM)

Sticking with NZ Sauvignon Blancs is the best way for you to go, if that's the flavor profile you seek. Surely, there will be others from other places, but NZ regularly delivers the goods on this front.



nyindallas -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/9/2012 7:35:55 PM)

Thanks, still can't help but wonder what those white Graves taste like.



LaggyJon -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/9/2012 9:22:57 PM)

Random recommendation you may enjoy - Arkenstone.

It is a small Napa winery up on Howell Mountain that makes a grapefruit/mineral style SB - one of the CT reviews said it was "like sucking on a grapefruit flavored stone," which is an excellent description. I'm sure there are differences from the ones you mentioned but it sounds like it may be up your alley. (Full disclosure - I visit every time I'm in wine country and have become friends with the family that owns it...but I really enjoy the wine.)

I've heard that a few other Howell Mountain wineries make similarly-styled SB (Ladera?) but I have not personally tried them.



slaughterer -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/9/2012 9:54:49 PM)

Try Kim Crawford SP Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc, for NZ
Or: Saint Clair Family Estate, also for NZ.



pjaines -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 1:02:05 AM)

I have a patholigcal hatred of almost all NZ Sauvignon Blanc - they are ubiquitous here in the UK and almost all of them taste exactly the same.

I would suggest the exception to this is Greywacke which is made by the same guy who started Cloudy Bay years ago.

I would also say the Loire in France makes the most beautiful Sauvignon Blancs - much less overtly cat-pee and more mineral-laden and complex. Pouilly-Fumé and Sancerre are probably the two most recognised regions. Some excellent stuff, and generally very cheap.

Also, white Bdx generally is more richer and has Semillion is there as well. I think white Bdx is a very underrated wine - you can get some good stuff from the southern end of Bordeux from regions like Entre-Deux-Mers and Graves



musedir -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 3:12:41 AM)

Ditto on the Sancerre. [:)]



S1 -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 3:15:55 AM)

ditto on pj's pathological hatred...[;)]
Sancerre, Sancerre, Sancerre pour moi



Old Doug -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 3:19:14 AM)

Who's got a bottle of Sancerre to share?



Ricardo -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 3:50:54 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: pjaines
Also, white Bdx generally is more richer and has Semillion is there as well. I think white Bdx is a very underrated wine - you can get some good stuff from the southern end of Bordeux from regions like Entre-Deux-Mers and Graves


I agree, the good stuff ain't cheap though.

Some good stuff:
Carbonnieres
Smith Haut Lafitte
Blanc de Lynch Bages
Larrivet-Haut-Brion

Not so much grapefruit as light citrus...




wineismylife -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 4:04:20 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: nyindallas

Thanks, still can't help but wonder what those white Graves taste like.


The polar opposite of the profile you like.



pjaines -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 4:09:49 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo

I agree, the good stuff ain't cheap though.


Not so much grapefruit as light citrus...




I think you can get some good stuff for around the 10-15 euro mark - certainly not from the producers you mentioned but there are certainly some perfectly acceptable whites from lesser chateau.

As for the taste - well you would be pushed to say it was pure Sauvignon Blanc, you are certainly right about that.



floydtp -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 4:20:22 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo

quote:

ORIGINAL: pjaines
Also, white Bdx generally is more richer and has Semillion is there as well. I think white Bdx is a very underrated wine - you can get some good stuff from the southern end of Bordeux from regions like Entre-Deux-Mers and Graves


I agree, the good stuff ain't cheap though.

Some good stuff:
Carbonnieres
Smith Haut Lafitte
Blanc de Lynch Bages
Larrivet-Haut-Brion

Not so much grapefruit as light citrus...




Good list but don't forget Domaine de Chevalier Blanc. They have been consistently good across 10 vintages in a row.



GalvezGuy -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 5:54:32 AM)

Coming back the grapefruit profile you prefer.

Cali

Enkidu
Zepaltas
Merry Edwards
Arkenstone (hard to find, pricey, but great)
Cakebread
Beckman

New Zealand (easy to find brands)

Drylands
Kim Crawford

Also loads of good stuff coming from South Africa.

Myself, I prefer Sancerre and White Bordeaux, but these are not the droids you seem to be looking for.



fingers -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 6:52:53 AM)

I'm going to chime in with what I think is a great Cali representation:

CAPTURE


Two of the winemakers from Ch Latour. Third vintage just released



Khamen -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 6:55:03 AM)

Hmm let me think. A good white Bordeaux blend that is good value and ages brilliantly...

Dom de Chevalier
Dom de Chevalier
Dom de Chevalier
Dom de Chevalier

Did I mention Dom de Chevalier? [;)]

K



Wine_Strategies -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 6:56:07 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: fingers

I'm going to chime in with what I think is a great Cali representation:

CAPTURE


Two of the winemakers from Ch Latour. Third vintage just released


Bob, IIRC you shared that with me in March. Thank you, it was delicious. Terrific with or without food. A great recco that others on this board should seek out. New world presentation, old world lift and freshness. Delish! [:)]



nyindallas -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 8:19:00 AM)

quote:

Myself, I prefer Sancerre and White Bordeaux, but these are not the droids you seem to be looking for.


Thanks for all the suggestions. A guy at the wine shop stopped me when I was about to try Kim Crawford and said I could do much better with other New Zealand SB' so I purchased 2 bottles, the WhiteHaven which hit the spot and one I have not tried yet called Framingham. We tried a Reserve SB from Chile called St Helena and it was dull.

Regarding Sancerre, a favorite of ours in 2009 Fouassier Sancerre Sur le Fort. While it does not have the grapefruit or much fruit, the minerals, especially the flint is wonderful.

We also have a few others we have not tried yet:
2009 Domaine Chatelain Pouilly-Fumé Les Chailloux
2009 Château de Thauvenay Sancerre which many CT members seem to like.

Have a great day. H




pjaines -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 8:44:51 AM)

One of my favourite Pouilly Fume quaffers.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1271727




Pontac -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 9:32:35 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: nyindallas

I can't believe it took all these years to actually enjoy this variety to the fullest.


Your tastes change over the years. And continue to change, old favourites will be dropped and new ones will take their place...



thesternowl -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 10:04:05 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: pjaines

I have a patholigcal hatred of almost all NZ Sauvignon Blanc ... I would also say the Loire in France makes the most beautiful Sauvignon Blancs - much less overtly cat-pee and more mineral-laden and complex.



mmmmm...love me some cat-pee with my tuna.



fingers -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 10:17:43 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: thesternowl


quote:

ORIGINAL: pjaines

I have a patholigcal hatred of almost all NZ Sauvignon Blanc ... I would also say the Loire in France makes the most beautiful Sauvignon Blancs - much less overtly cat-pee and more mineral-laden and complex.



mmmmm...love me some cat-pee with my tuna.


I am going to preface this with the caveat that my wife owns a feline specialty veterinary clinic, so I know of which I smell.

The common term, "cat pee" as associated with NZSB misses the mark slightly. The smell is actually tomcat spray, as anyone that has had their auto "marked" overnight could attest to. Cat urine is different. It has a stronger ammonia and formaldehyde-like aroma. Neither makes a great air-freshener, but the tomcat spray is usually less offensive than urine.

With that settled, please go ahead and enjoy that NZ Sauv Blanc [:D] We used to like it more, but have switched to more domestic and Loire SB as our tastes changed.




nyindallas -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 12:16:30 PM)

quote:

One of my favourite Pouilly Fume quaffers.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1271727


Sounds great, will look next time I am in Europe. No one seems to carry it in the US.



musedir -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 3:24:33 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: fingers


quote:

ORIGINAL: thesternowl


quote:

ORIGINAL: pjaines

I have a patholigcal hatred of almost all NZ Sauvignon Blanc ... I would also say the Loire in France makes the most beautiful Sauvignon Blancs - much less overtly cat-pee and more mineral-laden and complex.



mmmmm...love me some cat-pee with my tuna.


I am going to preface this with the caveat that my wife owns a feline specialty veterinary clinic, so I know of which I smell.

The common term, "cat pee" as associated with NZSB misses the mark slightly. The smell is actually tomcat spray, as anyone that has had their auto "marked" overnight could attest to. Cat urine is different. It has a stronger ammonia and formaldehyde-like aroma. Neither makes a great air-freshener, but the tomcat spray is usually less offensive than urine.

With that settled, please go ahead and enjoy that NZ Sauv Blanc [:D] We used to like it more, but have switched to more domestic and Loire SB as our tastes changed.




Only on CT could cat urine be so carefully analyzed! [:D]



fingers -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 3:34:33 PM)

It's a gift! [;)]



slaughterer -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 3:54:11 PM)

Gotta repeat myself: if you want to drink a Sauvignon Blancs that taste like grapefruit, I can't think of a better example than Kim Crawford, SP Spitfire. I like Sancerre as well, but, you know what, I also like the Spitfire. It is a great wine. I am not going to write off Kim Crawford at all because he does not produce in a Sancerre or Bordeaux style. The Spitfire is a great wine.
If you want a fair priced Bordeaux white, go with the latest vintages of Chateau Brown. As far as how white BDX ages, I would rather drink it out of the barrel or upon bottling--too much of that caramel flavor after a few years.



slaughterer -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 3:55:03 PM)

I give some old vintages of Dagueneau Silex the highest "cat pee" awards.



musedir -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/10/2012 4:13:30 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: slaughterer

Gotta repeat myself: if you want to drink a Sauvignon Blancs that taste like grapefruit, I can't think of a better example than Kim Crawford, SP Spitfire. I like Sancerre as well, but, you know what, I also like the Spitfire. It is a great wine. I am not going to write off Kim Crawford at all because he does not produce in a Sancerre or Bordeaux style. The Spitfire is a great wine.
If you want a fair priced Bordeaux white, go with the latest vintages of Chateau Brown. As far as how white BDX ages, I would rather drink it out of the barrel or upon bottling--too much of that caramel flavor after a few years.

Dr. M likes the Kim Crawford SB... She just likes Loire Valley wines better.



pjaines -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/11/2012 12:38:20 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: slaughterer


If you want a fair priced Bordeaux white, go with the latest vintages of Chateau Brown.


+1 on that. I have just tasted the 2011 during the EP campaign - will be very nice if the raw ingredients are anything to go by



wineismylife -> RE: Sauvignon Blanc (5/11/2012 6:49:27 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: slaughterer

I give some old vintages of Dagueneau Silex the highest "cat pee" awards.


Never had one like that myself.



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