Browse Tag

sauvignon blanc

Mugwi shot

[wines]Tohu 2006 Sauvignon Blanc “Mugwi” (Marlborough) – Concentrated gooseberry with makrut lime rind and salt. A bit puckery. This has a lot more character than Tohu’s regular sauvignon, but I don’t know if it’s a more appealing beverage or not. I’m just unsure. (6/08)

Vergeleggin’ it

[vineyards]Vergelegen 2006 Sauvignon Blanc (Western Cape) – Excellent varietal character. Green grass, green apple, and intense but balanced precision. Very, very good. (2/08)

Elgin Woods

[vineyard]Oak Valley 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (Elgin) – Green grass and green leaves. Varietally pure, and if it doesn’t say much besides that, it doesn’t seem to affect the enjoyment. (2/08)

Just one vineyard, growing in the darkness…

[vineyard]Small & Smith “Fairhall Downs” 2007 Sauvignon Blanc “Single Vineyard” (Marlborough) – Notice they don’t actually name the vineyard. Grapefruit with a tinge of red. Full-bodied and dry-tasting, though it carries 3.1 grams of residual sugar. Nicely executed. (2/08)

Admiral

Kaimira Estate 2004 Sauvignon Blanc (Nelson) – Slightly reduced, with a layer of dust and (non-TCA) must that somewhat mutes its gooseberry, lime, lemongrass, and grapefruit aromas. There’s a soda water aspect to this wine, as well. Iffy. (3/05)

Silex is golden

Didier Dagueneau 1997 Pouilly-Fumé “Silex” (Loire) – Milky-sweet, though perhaps not from actual residual sugar. There’s no life here, though there’s the residue of endless effort. I kinda hate it. (4/08)

Damned if you do

François Cotat 2006 Sancerre Les Monts Damnés (Loire) – All minerality in crystal form. Big and fat – perhaps it has a bit of a weight problem – but with sufficient skeletal fortitude to support the extra heft. I think it should, as usual, age well; it’s pretty primary now. (4/08)

François Cotat 2001 Sancerre Les Monts Damnés (Loire) – Gorgeous, like light through a prism. This brings all the concentrated facets of the young wine into focus, displaying them with remarkable purity and gentle ease, yet there’s excitement and complexity to be had as well. I’d say this is ready to go, though I don’t suppose there’s a huge hurry. (4/08)

Barry

[vineyard]Goldwater 2006 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) – Tropical green with just enough edge for freshness. It’s good, but this wine has lost something since its days as Dog Point; it’s got more Marlborough typicity, perhaps, but it’s lost the extras that lifted it just above the crowd. (4/08)