I reckon the average quality of Sauvignon Blanc is improving all the time. Here are three serious examples from across the globe, all of which are a bit different, but thoroughly enjoyable.
Dourthe Grande Cuvee Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Bordeaux
Lovely nose with grapefruit, herbs and grassy notes, combining richness and freshness. The palate is vibrant, ripe and grassy with a nice crystalline quality and grapefruit freshness. Lively and crisp with lovely balance. Serious. 89/100
Blind River Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Marlborough, New Zealand
From Awatere, this is enhanced with 10% barrel fermentation. Complex, rich, bold and intense with subtle, grassy tomato leaf notes on the nose. The palate is taut and precise with some richness, but the dominant feature being grassy grapefruit and citrus characters, with some minerality. 91/100 (£12.99 Oddbins)
Casas del Bosque Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2009 Casablanca Valley, Chile
This is really nice: lovely rounded lemon, grapefruit and melon fruit with a subtle grassiness. Very well balanced. A rich, complex Sauvignon Blanc with real appeal. 88/100
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3 Comments on Three serious Sauvignons: Chile, Bordeaux, New Zealand
I agree with the Casas del Bosque – it’s a great wine. Coastal Chilean Sauv Blanc seems to have come from nowhere very quickly. “Quintay” is also excellent
http://www.quintay.com/quintayes/
Will be interesting to see how the change of Winemaker at Casas del Bosque will affect the 2010s. I’m expecting great things from the new man, Kiwi Grant Phelps, having recently left Viu Manent after 7 years or so.
grant is a talented chap – love viu manent
Grant is a great winemaker
and casas del bosque hace a great fruit
i think thr sauvignon will be excelent in the vintage 2010