International Sauvignon Blanc Day 2016
They’re called palate cleansers. Because Sauvignon Blanc is almost always dry, fresh and fruity. That makes it the perfect aperitif wine. Because the grape grows somewhere in almost every wine-producing country, there are plenty of differences. Differences in taste and price.
There are classic Sauvignon Blancs from the Loire Valley in France, such as Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé. These often have a mineral taste. Whereas wines made from grapes from Marlborough, New Zealand, for example, have a more exuberant and tropical flavor. Because today is International Sauvignon Blanc Day, FavorFlav is testing three completely different Sauvignon Blancs. All three are delicious, vary in price and are available around the corner.
SB#tip 1
Dreamfish Sauvignon Blanc 2015 – Transylvania, Romania
Hema – € 4,-
This is a great wine for the price. Not extreme, but soft and floral. The finish is somewhat sweet for a Sauvignon Blanc. And part of the proceeds goes to a local charity project for young people. With that in mind, the wine tastes even better.
Awards:
De Grote Hamersma
SB#tip 2
Bellevue Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2015 – Loire, France
Grapedistrict – € 8,99
An intense, mineral wine with fresh notes of citrus and peach. Yet it is mild, refined and elegant. Goes well with a local goat cheese. Less intense in flavor, and not expensive at all compared with a Sancerre or Pouilly Fumé.
Awards:
Winner Proefpanel Parool Hamersma
Concours Mondial Sauvignon – Gold
SB#tip 3
Yealands Estate ‘Single Block’ Sauvignon Blanc 2014 – Marlborough, New Zealand
Gall & Gall – € 16,99
This organic wine is fresh, intense and complex. That is exactly what you can expect from a New Zealand savvy. You can taste flavors such as tomato stem, asparagus and green bell pepper in it. But also grapefruit and passion fruit. This layered and rich wine is best enjoyed with fish.
Awards:
De Grote Hamersma 8,5
Decanter – Silver
Melbourne International Wine Competition – Gold
International Wine Challenge – Silver
And if you don’t like all that dry stuff, don’t think this grape only produces taut, acidic wines. They also make oak-aged versions. Such as the white Bordeaux wines, in which Sauvignon Blanc is blended with the Sémillon grape. Dry, off-dry and in any case much fuller in flavor. Sweet wines are even made from it. In and around the famous town of Sauternes – also in Bordeaux – they make an intensely sweet variety from grapes affected by Botrytis Cinerea, or ‘noble rot’. Delicious with blue cheese or foie gras.
