I live in Chile close to the casablanca valley and have become very fond of the Sauvignon Blanc from the region.
Can anyone tell me what they consider as the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world and what others i should try to compare wih what comes out of the casablanca. For example some people have told me that New Zealand makes the best. Is this true?
Sauvignon blanc from NZ - ripe, tropical, overt, round, plump, but great acidity to back it all up. I'd call it the best sauvignon blanc in the world.
But, there are those who've disagreed with me on this in the past. Loire valley has a much more pungent, grassy, thin, crisp style of sauvignon blanc that has won many fans on this board. I'd call these the best old-world SBs in the world, particularly Sancerre.
"I can certainly see that you know your wine. Most of the guests who stay here wouldn't know the difference between Bordeaux and Claret." John Cleese (Basil Fawlty)
Posts: 496 | Location: Mississauga, ON | Registered: Feb 15, 2006
NZ SB is fine, but simple and one dimensional. It will never hit the heights, depth, or complexity achieved in Bordeaux. Unfortunately the best white Bordeaux are expensive and many people pass them up for that reason. Anybody who's ever had an Haut Brion Blanc will not tell you the world's best SBs are the grapefruit juice from NZ.
Just one more sip.
Posts: 20707 | Location: NY | Registered: Oct 18, 2001
I can agree with that ... wasn't considering Bordeaux 'cause I thought we were considering only straight SB.
Blends included and price being no object, Graves whites are pretty unbeatable. The '05s especially ... Smith-Haute-Lafitte and H-B are both awesome.
"I can certainly see that you know your wine. Most of the guests who stay here wouldn't know the difference between Bordeaux and Claret." John Cleese (Basil Fawlty)
Posts: 496 | Location: Mississauga, ON | Registered: Feb 15, 2006
This is kinda funny because if you ask a Kiwi or Englander they will tell you the best SB comes from NZ...So on and on (not that this is the case for anybody on this board)... I would say to understand and appreciate what each region offers in a SB, and then make decisions on what style you like best. Believe it or not...for the price...Kenwood makes one of the best SB's on the market.
"Wine is considered with good reason as the most healthful and the most hygienic of all beverages." ~Louis Pasteur 1822-95
Posts: 46 | Location: Manhattan Beach, Ca | Registered: Jan 27, 2008
Sauvingnon Blanc is a grape, like Pinot Noir, that takes on a strikingly different character depending on the climate where it is grown. Without getting into any argument about which region is best, you should try some of the excellent examples from Australia (esp. the Adelaide Hills), California (the richest, most saturated style), Italy, and South Africa. Oregon and Washington come up with acceptable examples, and some from South America are not bad either. I've even had good bottles from Croatia and Slovenia.
I find the SBs from Europe, particularly the Loire Valley, are the most food friendly, but require more attention to appreciate.
Don't dismiss a decent NZ Sauvignon because there exists something like a white Haut-Brion.
I'm very fond of the NZ style of making a sauvignon. It's to be drunk young and it has nothing to do with bordeaux blends. Calling it "grapefruit juice" sounds just prejudiced to me.
It doesn't mean there's nothing good coming from other parts of the globe and even entre-deux-mers produces some decent sauvignons (annex some sémillon) in a somewhat more accessible price range than the grand graves.
Originally posted by winetoursvalparaiso: I live in Chile close to the casablanca valley and have become very fond of the Sauvignon Blanc from the region.
Can anyone tell me what they consider as the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world and what others i should try to compare wih what comes out of the casablanca. For example some people have told me that New Zealand makes the best. Is this true?
I would also recommend that you double check on the SB that you are drinking in Chile as recent ampelographical research has found that most of the SB plantings is actually Sauvignon Vert or Sauvignonasse, a less aromatic clone of SB.
"Wine is considered with good reason as the most healthful and the most hygienic of all beverages." ~Louis Pasteur 1822-95
Posts: 46 | Location: Manhattan Beach, Ca | Registered: Jan 27, 2008
Originally posted by pape du neuf: ...California (the richest, most saturated style)
...require more attention to appreciate.
Sincere question: What do you mean?
Sancho,
Just about everyone knows what fruit smells and tastes like. People generally prefer riper fruits. Wines that are fruit forward are obvious and easy to like. New Zealand SBs typically have a citrus/gooseberry profile. The acidity adds more tartness than one usually wants in fruit, but on balance the fruit stands out more than the acid. California SBs tend to be riper still, and even easier for a beginning wine drinker to be comfortable with.
Loire Valley SBs are much more acidic. That acidity is often perceived as "mineral", although a chemical analysis would show no different mineral components than riper wines from elsewhere. The fruit flavors and aromas are there, just not coming at you in a big blast. Patience is rewarded in aging the wine longer, serving at a slightly higher temperature, aerating well, and sipping slowly. Having food to insulate your mouth from the acidity helps.
Another element is Sauvingnon Blanc is the grassy/new mown hay aroma. That can come through, or be entirely absent in SB from any region. It's an acquired taste, or maybe a never to be acquired taste for some.
Some one else can take over with the really advanced levels of appreciation involving cat pee, etc.
One to try if you can find it is Mondavi Reserve Fume' Blanc.! Wow! I ma usually not a big Mondavi fan, but when I got the bottle, it was 5 years old already but was one of the best wines I have ever had. I eneded up buying more of it. One that is more available and less money is the Stellenbosh SB from South Africa. Very nice wine!
