Sauvignon Blanc Archives - Page 2 of 2 - It Must Be Wine O'clock

A fresh, vibrant New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to brighten up your day …

Mud House Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough (2020)

Given the fact that nowadays Sauvignon Blanc is New Zealand’s flagship grape variety, it is difficult to imagine that it wasn’t until the 1970s that the wine was commercially produced in the country. Now, New Zealand is synonymous with this punchy, zesty, aromatic white wine and its flavours of elderflower, gooseberry, and passionfruit.

Marlborough on New Zealand’s South Island is the country’s main centre for grape growing, with Sauvignon Blanc accounting for most of the grape planting in this region. Most of Marlborough’s vineyards are located in the Wairu and Awatere valleys.

Although the two valleys are adjacent, the climate in the Wairu Valley is known for its long sunny days, whereas Awatere Valley is drier, cooler and windier. Typically a Sauvignon Blanc from the latter has higher acidity and a more pronounced herbaceous character than a wine from Wairu. It will also generally lack the tropical fruit flavours often associated with a Sauvignon Blanc from the Wairu Valley.

The Mud House Sauvignon Blanc 2020 gives the best of both worlds: a careful blend of grapes grown in the upper Wairau Valley along with grapes from well-established growers in the Awatere Valley. The result: a dry, light-bodied wine of medium (+) acidity with aromas of apple, peach and grass on the nose, leading to melon, grapefruit and passionfruit flavours on the palate.

A great match for seafood or something slightly spicy, it can also be enjoyed by itself.

Widely available (£9/£10)

Two Sauvignon Blanc wines from the Loire Valley

The vineyards of the Loire Valley produce a diverse range of white, red and rosé wines from the Central Vineyards in the east, through Touraine and Anjou-Saumur, to the Nantais sub-region by the Atlantic coast in the west. Each of the four sub-regions is subject to different climactic conditions better suited to certain grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc in the Central Vineyards and Touraine; Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc in Touraine and Anjou-Saumur; and Melon Blanc in Nantais, for example.

Notwithstanding the excellent Chenin Blanc wines from Vouvray or the refreshing Muscadet sur Lie wines from Sèvre-et-Maine, for me the Loire Valley is synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc and since becoming first acquainted with Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé wines as a student many years ago, I find myself coming back to these wines time and again.

The Hauts de Perrière Pouilly-Fumé (2019) from Waitrose is a very good example of what a fine Pouilly-Fumé should be. This is a crisp dry wine with high acidity, medium alcohol and medium (+) body. With aromas of apple, pear, lemon and honeysuckle on the nose, and flavours of apple, gooseberry and pear on the palate, with a smoky flintiness on the finish, the wine is well-balanced and has a smooth, velvety texture. It’s ideal as an aperitif or with a seafood dish.

Available from Waitrose. £16.79

Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Le Vin des Copains 2019

And if you like the Hauts de Perrière Pouilly-Fumé, you are sure to like this – Le Vin des Copains. This is another fine Sauvignon Blanc, this time from Touraine, just to the west of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, and is a refreshing, fruity wine to enjoy by itself or with food. A dry wine with high acidity and medium (+) body, it has aromas of blossom, apple, pear and lime on the nose, and apple, pear, grapefruit and peach on the palate. A well balanced wine with a long finish, it went down a treat with grilled mackerel.

Available from Waitrose. £8.99

Three sweet white wines to round off your meal

In the mood for something a little different? Then here are three sweet white wines to enjoy with your dessert. (Or why not try them as an aperitif or with terrine or blue cheese …)

Les Garonelles, Sauternes 2017

Les Garonelles, Sauternes 37.5cl 2017, Lucien Lurton Collection

This Sauternes wine is a blend of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes. Pale gold in appearance, it has intense aromas of pear, apricot and peach on the nose, and flavours of passionfruit and apricot on the palate. An elegant, well-balanced wine with a long finish which pairs well with cheesecake, meringue, or a fruit-based dessert. Available Great Wine Co. (£11.50 half bottle)

Disznókö Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2017 (Hungary)

This sweet wine from the Tokaj region of Hungary is a recent new discovery and a really pleasant surprise. Made from a blend of Furmint and Hárslevelü grapes, it has pronounced aromas of honey, marmalade and dried apricot from the get-go, leading to intense flavours of peach, dried apricot, honey and orange peel on the palate. A full-bodied wine, with medium acidity and a long finish, this is a well-balanced, very good wine. Available from Waitrose (£19.99)

Château de Géraud, Monbazillac 2014

A delightful wine from Monbazillac, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle grapes. Intense aromas of marmalade, honey and lemon on the nose, and lemon and orange on the palate. A balanced wine with medium acidity and a long finish, we enjoyed it with a panna cotta with caramel drizzle – heavenly. Cambridge Wine Merchants (£13.99)

Three refreshing white wines

If you are looking for something new to try, here are three refreshing white wines from around the world: a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a German Riesling and an Italian Soave.

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2019

If you are looking for a refreshing fruity Sauvignon Blanc to accompany your seafood dish or pad Thai, then this Oyster Bay wine from Marlborough, New Zealand is just the ticket. It’s a zesty, refreshing wine offering grapefruit, apple and pear on the nose with additional tropical flavours of passion fruit and lychee on the palate. A well-balanced dry wine with a good finish, this is one of my favourites. Majestic Wine £10.99 (£9.49 Mix Six)

Kendermanns Riesling Kabinett

Although it has taken a while for German wines to shed their image of inferior sweet wines of the Blue Nun variety, there are lots of good wines coming out of Germany these days for those looking to try something new. This wine, for example, is a fragrant Riesling Kabinett with lemon, peach and apple on the nose, and bright fruity flavours of citrus, apple and faintly tropical fruits on the palate. With high acidity and low alcohol, it is a well-balanced wine with a hint of sweetness and a longish finish. Fine by itself, or paired with white meats or a Thai curry. Majestic Wine £9.99 (£6.99 Mix Six)

Fattori Soave 2019

This is a dry medium-bodied wine produced from the Garganega grape and hails from the Veneto region of north-east Italy. Fragrant on the nose with herbal and floral aromas with hints of peach, and ripe fruit flavours of peach and melon on the palate with a hint of minerality. It’s a refreshing, nicely balanced wine which will pair well with a fish/seafood dish. Majestic Wine £10.99 (£8.99 Mix Six)

Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc 2019

I was initially a little sceptical when I first came across this wine in New Zealand earlier this year. My wife and I were on holiday when we spotted it on a supermarket shelf in Auckland and though we enjoy the Graham Norton Show, we doubted his skills extended to wine-making … But we took a punt and were pleasantly surprised – it turned out to be surprisingly good. Very good in fact. Crisp, zesty and refreshing, with tropical fruit flavours of passion fruit and kiwi. Delighted to see that it is now currently available at Asda, and so immediately rushed out to get a few bottles. It goes really well with pan-fried salmon!

Three white wines for early autumn

Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Cannonball Chardonnay 2017

This Californian Chardonnay from Sonoma Valley is a very good wine. A refreshing, full-bodied wine with medium acidity, with flavours of apple pie, peach and nectarine, and secondary flavours of butter and vanilla. A very well-balanced wine – fine to drink by itself and goes very well with fish/seafood dishes.

Pinot Grigio delle Venezie 2018 Sartori

A simple but perfectly agreeable wine from Italy’s Veneto region, this Pinot Grigio has a subtle refreshing flavour of apples, lemons and pears, with overtones of melon. It’s perfectly fine as an aperitif, but also goes well with pasta dishes with light sauces, as well as chicken or fish dishes.