Sauvignon Blanc

Südsteiermark is a region in southeastern Austria that produces excellent, fruity Sauvignon Blancs which is exactly what this wine is.  This is one of this producers entry level bottlings.  Yellow/gold/green in color.  The nose is pretty with pears, slight gooseberries, limes and minerals.  On the palate, the limes and gooseberries stand out although there is some underlying minerality.  Fresh with lots of energy.  Long finish.  This should be consumed in the next year or two.  It drinks well on its own and will work well with lighter fowl or seafood dishes.  

From a tremendous vintage, but this Sauternes is great in just about any vintage and one of the more reasonably priced ones at that.  This was purchased on release and well stored.  Medium golden/orange in color.  The nose is great with honey, slight pineapple, slight saline and canned peaches.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is sweet not cloying.  It has dropped some of its sweetness in the 19 years since release.  Lots of depth and complexity.  Layers of peaches, minerals and honey.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This is great on its own and will work with a not too sweet frui

Another winner from this stalwart Napa producer.  White gold/silvery in color.  The nose has seltzer, minerality, pears and white floral notes.  Pretty.  Medium bodied.  On the palate there is a sort of copper minerality that is very interesting along with the more usual notes of lemon peel, and melon.  Good acidity.  Fresh.  Long finish.  This is delicious and refreshing on its own but would work great with chicken salad or other lighter fare/salads.  Best to drink in the next few years to enjoy the vibrancy.  

This was tasted from a 1.5 liter box.  While boxed wines tend not to be the most expensive wines, the box is actually a wonderful method for enjoying wines.  It keeps the oxygen out and the wines in excellent condition.  Silvery green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has peaches, limes and minerals.  On the palate, this is crisp and clean.  Limes and melon with a slight minty note and underlying minerals.  Sort finish.  This is drinking well on opening.  In the box format, one could leave this in the fridge and have a glass or two a day for a couple three weeks with no degradation

Always a great wine, this vintage is certainly one of the best.  Green gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with lemons, slight grapefruits, minerals and slight herbal notes.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this is crisp with lovely citrus fruit over a base on minerality.  Nice acidity.  Long finish.  It is delicious.  Drinks well on its own and will work well with lighter salads or even fish or fowl.  drink over the next three to five years.  

A delightful Sauvignon Blanc from this top Red Wine producer.  Green/gold in color.  A bit cloudy.  Great nose of grapefruits, spice and lemons.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, grapefruit with a slight minty note.  Good acidity.  Dry.  This drinks great young but will certainly age for five to seven years.  Great on its own.  A nice pairing with lighter salads and veggie dishes.  

It can be really fun to taste older wines.  At age 47, this one is drinking nicely.  Deep golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose shows just a hint of oxidation with apricots and honey and white raisins.  Full bodied and slightly viscous.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is sweet with honeyed apricots.  Nice finish.  The bottle was then stuck in the fridge for a few weeks.  Upon re-tasting, it was still fresh and vibrant.  Who know how long this may last.  Drinks well on its own and worked well with various cheeses.  

A lovely wine.  Light golden in color.  The nose is gorgeous with honey, quince, slight orange peel.  On the palate, this is viscous.  Sweet not cloying.  Lots of depth with enough acidity to keep things lively.  The honey and quince carry thru to the palate.  A very long finish.  This is delicious but also contemplative.  It drinks great on its own and would work with less sweet desserts.  This should continue to evolve and drink well for the next thirty years.  A real treat.  

This wine is just starting to come into its own.  A gorgeous showing for this Sauvignon Blanc from France.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with melon, peaches and minerality.  Medium bodied.  Crisp yet welcoming at the same time.  Great balance.  Depth and complexity.  The peach notes are stronger on the palate along with a chalkiness.  Long finish.  Just delicious.  This sill work great with seafood or lighter pasta dishes and of course, on its own.  No hurry, this seems like it is in middle age and will easily got another ten to twelve years.  

This was the wine that put New Zealand wines on the worldwide map.  That was twenty or thirty years ago (the winery was actually founded in 1985), and it had been a while since I have tried this wine.  And, it is still excellent.  Light green/gold in color.  The nose has tropical fruits and limes.  Very nice.  Clean.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Just a hint of sweetness.  Tropical fruits with slight citrus.  Enough acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks easily on its own.  It will work well with lighter foods, maybe a fruit salad?  Drink over the next three to five years.