Attributes:

Hubert Veneau

Pouilly Fume, France

Sauvignon Blanc

750 ML

2005: WineSpectator Rating: 86

grapefruit, herb, lemon, peach

199: WineSpectator Rating: 90

ripe fruit

199: Decanter Rating: 3

Food Matches:

The finest examples of this crisp, dry white wine from the Loire Valley are made with Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which impart an elusive, smoky, flinty flavor that is further brought out by the chalky soil found on the appellation’s best vineyards.

Comes mostly from California, France, New Zealand, and South Africa. Its highly acidic wines are often suggestive of herbs or grass. Light to medium bodied and usually dry, European versions are generally not oaky while California Sauvignon Blanc can take on many of the qualities of Chardonnay. France has two classic wine regions for the Sauvignon Blanc gape: Bordeaux and the Loire Valley The Bordeaux wine is called Bordeaux Blanc and the two best known of the Loire wines are called Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé. In Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes blended with Sémillon.

Attributes:

Cloudy Bay

Marlborough, Australia/New Zealand

Sauvignon Blanc

750 ML

2006: WineSpectator Rating: 91

tart

2005: WineSpectator Rating: 88

crisp, fresh, lively

2004: WineEnthusiast Rating: 89

snappy

2004: Tanzer Rating: 91

floral

rich

nectarine, peach, pepper

2004: WineSpectator Rating: 86

lively

citrus, herbaceous, herbs, lime, mineral, pepper, peppery, smoky

2003: WineSpectator Rating: 89

bright, tangy, tart

lime

2003: WineEnthusiast Rating: 88

solid

juicy, ripe

2002: WineSpectator Rating: 93

bright, fresh

complex

lime

Food Matches:

Comes mostly from California, France, New Zealand, and South Africa. Its highly acidic wines are often suggestive of herbs or grass. Light to medium bodied and usually dry, European versions are generally not oaky while California Sauvignon Blanc can take on many of the qualities of Chardonnay. France has two classic wine regions for the Sauvignon Blanc gape: Bordeaux and the Loire Valley The Bordeaux wine is called Bordeaux Blanc and the two best known of the Loire wines are called Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé. In Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes blended with Sémillon.

When the first growers planted grapes in Marlborough in the 1970s (there is evidence of plantings as early as 1870s), it is unlikely they would have foreseen the extent of the growth and fame that the region’s wine industry would achieve, based upon a single varietal called Sauvignon Blanc. The distinctive pungency and zest fruit flavours of the first Marlborough wines, in particular Sauvignon Blanc, captured the imagination of the country's winemakers as well as international wine commentators and consumers and sparked an unparalleled boom in vineyard development. Worldwide interest in Marlborough wines, particularly Sauvignon Blanc, has continued to fuel that regional wine boom.

Attributes:

Osborne

Spain

Dry White Table Wine

750 ML

Food Matches:

This mountainous country possesses more vineyard land than any other country on earth, and ranks third in wine production after France and Italy. Spain is best known for its red Riojas and its Sherries, however other wines and regions are quickly gaining notoriety. Like France, Spain divides wine into categories; table wine at the bottom level and quality wine at the top, with a large emphasis on geographical origin. VdM (Vino de Mesa) is a basic table wine. VC (Vino Comarcal) wines are a level up. VdlT (Vino de la Tierra) refers to one of the country’s 25 distinct regions, and each wine possesses a local character. At the top level, only about fifty wines are considered DO (Denominacion de Origen). These wines come from the best-known regions and are the equivalent of France’s Appellation Contrôlée. DOC (Denominacion de Origen Calificada) is reserved for wines that adhere to the most stringent regulations. So far, Rioja is the only wine to gain the Calificada classification.