#Sauvignon blanc full#

I encountered many of these traits on a Domaine Girault Sancerre, Le Chene du Roy, during a lesson tasting. It might seem strange, but you really can smell and taste these aromas and flavours, even though, to me, the idea of tasting nettle seems simultaneously ridiculous and painful. The villages of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé – not to be confused with Pouilly-Fuissé – face each other across the banks of the Loire river and produce dry, medium-bodied white wines with high acidity, and moderate or pronounced aromas of green fruit and herbaceous notes – gooseberry, grass, blackcurrant leaf or even nettle. However, with some Fumé Blancs you can still taste hints of grape’s herbaceous heritage, breaking through the spicy oak flavours of vanilla, toast or liquorice.įrance is the native homeland of Sauvignon Blanc and the Loire Valley, the epicentre for the typical wines produced in the country. Another quirk is that they can be unoaked, lightly oaked, or heavily oaked – an outlandish step. Fumé Blanc was described by one WSET tutor as a “quirky” alternative to traditional Sauvignon Blanc, and is widely credited to Californian wine trail-blazer Robert Mondavi.

Though the grape can cope with the moderate climate, it is too warm for the grape to retain its herbaceous characteristics. The notable exception is the Californian Fumé Blanc, a type synonymous with the Napa Valley. This is why you see some from the cooler New World regions, beside those from the brisk climates of northern France.Īs one expects fresh, crisp wines with green fruit and herbaceous flavours, Sauvignon Blancs are near-exclusively unoaked. Therefore, Sauvignon Blanc needs a cool climate to preserve these qualities, though it can abide a moderate one. Wines are high in acidity, medium-bodied, and almost always dry.

#Sauvignon blanc full#

September releases 2022: full score table.

Rhône 2021 score table: top white wines.

March releases on the Place de Bordeaux 2023.

Sauvignon blanc also pairs well with a handful of soft cheeses, particularly fresh goat’s cheese. Its green undertones render it a match made in heaven with “hard to pair” dishes, including asparagus, green salads and other crisp veggies. Which Foods Should I Pair with Sauvignon Blanc?īecause of its high levels of natural acidity, sauvignon blanc pairs well with a variety of foods, including sushi and other raw-bar favorites. Sauvignon Blanc is a white-wine grape from western France, now successfully grown in emerging and established wine regions all over the world. In the Loire Valley, sauvignon blanc takes on very flinty and stony flavors due to the unique silex soils in which it’s cultivated. In France’s Loire Valley, wines labeled Sancerre and Pouilly-Fum are by law 100. Wines produced from the grape have become so popular that they’ve even earned their own unique set of nicknames, including Sauv Blanc, Sauvy B, and more. In warmer climates, the fruit becomes much more ripe, which translates to more stone fruit and tropical fruit notes. Sauvignon Blanc is the name of the grape variety, as well as the wine that’s produced from it. In cooler climates, the wines take on more “green” flavors, such as green bell pepper, grass and citrus fruit. Although they are generally consumed young, well-made expressions have long-term aging potential.ĭepending on where it’s grown, sauvignon blanc can take on many different flavor profiles. In order to preserve freshness and natural acidity, most varietal sauvignon blanc wines are aged in stainless steel, though sur-lie aging, in which wines are aged on the lees, is frequently implemented, which adds texture and weight to the final wines. The grape is generally produced as a single-varietal wine, although in certain regions (particularly in Bordeaux) it’s often blended with sémillon. Like all grapes, sauvignon blanc’s final flavor profiles depend on where it's grown and how it’s vinified. It’s one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the world.Īlthough sauvignon blanc is native to France’s Bordeaux/southwest regions, the grape is now commonly found in Australia, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States (especially California) and beyond. Sauvignon blanc goes by various names, including blanc fumé, muskat-silvaner and sauvignon jaune. The grape likely gets its name from the French words for wild (sauvage) and white (blanc). Sauvignon blanc is a green-skinned grape variety native to France. However, knowing its subtle intricacies, particularly around where it’s grown, how it’s vinified and what to expect from the final wines it produces, is essential. Known for its high acidity and citrus-driven flavors, this widely planted variety is the backbone of a plethora of zesty thirst-quenching wines produced around the globe. Sauvignon blanc is one of the most recognized and beloved white wine grapes in the world.