By Tom Marquardt And Patrick Darr
As the temperatures rise, consumers often turn to sauvignon blanc for refreshments. Known for its crisp acidity, sauvignon blanc serves as a powerful foil to hot days on the boat or patio. While chardonnay is a delicious wine to pair with an elegant dinner in air-conditioned comfort, sauvignon blanc is better sipped alone or alongside a crudite platter.
Not all sauvignon blanc tastes the same. Those from New Zealand are known for their fresh-mown grass and bell pepper characteristics. Consumers often find these versions pungent and overly acidic, but they are unquestionably refreshing.
Sauvignon blancs from Bordeaux, on the other hand, are rounder because they are blended with a good dose of semillon. No matter where they are from, generally, the flavors include grapefruit, stone fruit and lemon or lime.
While these wines are often inexpensive, we have noticed several pricier sauvignons have entered the market. Although these are interesting wines, sauvignon blanc doesn’t have to be complex to be enjoyed. Many of these expensive wines are aged in oak to make them more complex.
We found several premium sauvignon blancs, listed below, that take the grape variety to a new level – for those who can afford it.
One example from Flora Springs puts an interesting twist on this reliable grape variety. This highly respected winery was recently purchased by Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte of Bordeaux, but the Komes family kept the Flora Springs, Trilogy and Soliloquy brands as well as more than 275 acres in Napa Valley.
The 2023 Soliloquy ($70), an unusual blend of sauvignon blanc, malvasia and chardonnay, isn’t your typical sauvignon blanc. But, wow, what a wine. It has more dimension with the additional grapes: the sauvignon blanc brings honeysuckle notes while the malvasia and chardonnay add green apple and citrus flavors.
Here are some other sauvignon blancs we recently tasted:
Domaine Curry Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2023 ($45). We like the pink grapefruit and tropical fruit flavors and mineral note in this delicious sauvignon blanc. Well worth the price.
Gamble Family Vineyards Gamble Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2022 ($55). This sauvignon blanc continues to amaze us year after year. It’s not for those of you who prefer the tart sauvignon blancs from New Zealand. With heavy use of a musque clone from the Loire, the wine has a rich mouthfeel. Add to that another clone from Loire and two clones originating from Bordeaux and you have a very different and satisfying sauvignon blanc from the producer’s estate vineyard – one that sells some of its grapes to the likes of Realm Cellars and Hourglass. It has generous honeysuckle and stone fruit aromas followed by peach, lychee and lemon meringue flavors.
Cloudy Bay Te Koko New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2021 ($65). Using grapes from old vines cultivated on the floor of the Wairau Valley, this delicious wine gets some oak fermentation to give the wine complexity and texture. We found pink grapefruit, white peach and citrus mingling with a definitive mineral note.
Francois Lurton Les Fumees Blanches Sauvignon Blanc 2022 ($15). Sauvignon blanc is a good call for spring fare and this one is a good value. Crisp and zesty with citrus and pineapple notes.
Taft Street Winery Russian River Valley Garagistes Sauvignon Blanc 2022 ($30). The barrel aging in this version of sauvignon blanc gives it a round mouthfeel and some oak flavors. Otherwise, expect to find white peach, apricot flavors with a floral aroma.
Textbook Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2023 ($21). Melon and floral aromas give way to simple citrus flavors with a dash of minerality.
Franciscan Estate California Chardonnay 2022 ($13). Stone fruit and citrus make this a pleasing wine to sip or serve along a fresh vegetable or fruit tray.
Rombauer Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2022 ($28). Known first for its chardonnay, Rombauer’s sauvignon blanc is often overlooked. Tropical fruit, pineapple and lime notes
Stags’ Leap Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2022 ($35). White peach and zesty lime with a floral nose and good acidity.
Dough Wines Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 ($19). While most of the wines from this producer hail from California, winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen tapped into some grapes from Wither Hills Winery in New Zealand for her new sauvignon blanc. It has distinct peach and mango notes with some grapefruit, grass and mineral.
Stags’ Leap Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2022 ($35). We enjoyed the floral and herbal aromas of this wine. The palate includes an array of citrus flavors, plus white peach, to make it an expressive sauvignon blanc.
Decoy California Sauvignon Blanc 2023 ($20). Always a great value, Duckhorn’s Decoy series delivers balanced and fruit-forward wines. Sourcing grapes from several regions, it produces a wine with refreshing acidity and varietal grapefruit and citrus notes.
Tapestry Wines’ Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2023 ($18). Peach, lime and balanced acidity make this a very quaffable sauvignon blanc to enjoy alone or share with summer fare.
Wine picks
Our Daily Cab 2023 ($11). No sulfites and gluten-free, this wine has a lot of stuffing for the price. Blue fruit aromas with ripe plum, blackberry flavors with a hint of dark chocolate.
Materra Cunat Family Vineyards Chardonnay 2021 ($36). From the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, this well-balanced and creamy chardonnay is from a producer new to us. Lots of stone fruit and citrus notes with a hint of almonds.
Rumor Cotes de Provence AOP Rose 2023 ($30). Floral with peach and citrus flavors, this rose is an exotic blend of grenache, cinsault, syrah, mourvedre and tibouren. It is certified organic and vegan.
Sapaio Volpolo Bolgheri DOC 2022 ($36). This blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot from the Bolgheri region of central Italy is an easy-to-drink quaff that would do well with barbecued meats.
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