What does Sauvignon Blanc taste of?
Sauvignon Blanc is an aromatic white grape variety with produces crisp, refreshing wine with green fruits (apple, gooseberry), floral and herbaceous flavours with uplifting zesty citrus notes, often with a lick of minerality. It grows best in cool or moderate climates and produces wines that are light to medium bodied with notable high acidity.
Depending on where it is grown it can taste of green fruits with a distinctive grassy note or it could taste of passion fruit, nectarine and mango but it always has that racy acidity and it is always deliciously refreshing. It is very rarely oaked so the aromatics and purity of fruit is preserved. Most Sauvignon Blanc needs to be drunk in its youth and is not suitable for aging. However, there are a small number of premium examples of both sweet (Sauternes) and dry (Bordeaux) that can be barrel fermented or oak aged and benefit from a few years further aging.
Where does Sauvignon Blanc grow?
The variety originated in Bordeaux, and has now established itself in many of the world's wine regions, producing a crisp, dry, and refreshing white varietal wine with a distinct flavour profile. The most well-known and prestigious examples come from Sancerre and Pouilly Fume in the Loire Valley.
The variety found a natural home in the Marlborough region on the South Island of New Zealand where the combination of climate, light, soil and coastal breezes proved ideal for the variety to thrive. So much so that it has become a modern classic considering commercial plantings of the grape only began in the 1970s. The style here is more pronounced with passion fruit, elderflower, freshly cut grass and green bell pepper characters.
In Bordeaux it is blended with Semillon to make the sweet wines of Sauternes, and crisp dry wines that can be equally as good. There are also some barrel aged examples are produced.
The future of Sauvignon Blanc
Many people have grown a little tired of New Zealand Sauvignon and the recent shortages have encouraged people to try Sauvignon from other parts of the world or other grape varieties which produce wines that are similar in style to Sauvignon i.e. Albarino or Verdelho.
There is a lot of experimentation going on in Marlborough with Sauvignon which is focusing on grapes from cooler vineyard sites to produce wines that are more similar to those from the Loire Valley. Others are experimenting with small amounts of oak and lees stirring to add texture, weight and complexity to the wine.
Foods to Pair with Sauvignon Blanc
Due to the high acidity levels, the grape pairs well with high acid foods like tomatoes which are notoriously difficult to match - the acidity is moderated and the wine tastes fruitier. Also pair with Greek salads, asparagus, seafood, and dishes with lots of herbs and aromatic spice.
Photo by Luisa Brimble
Top 6 Sauvignon Blancs
Origen Sauvignon Blanc, Central Valley, Chile
Vibrant and herbaceous nose of lemon, nectarine and hints of freshly cut grass. Clean and crisp on the palate with refreshing acidity and enticing core of tropical fruit such as mango and passionfruit.
Warwick Estate Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa
Aromas of crushed tropical fruit with a touch of white blossom. Complex layers of pineapple, melon, passion fruit and kiwi on the palate are balanced by the crisp, bright and zingy acidity. A classic South African Sauvignon Blanc!
Esk Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
True to its Marlborough origins the flavours are a mix of ripe tropical fruits, citrus and cooler notes of fresh herbs, tomato leaf and pea pod. It is dry and medium-bodied with a crisp finish which provides freshness and length. It gains added complexity from some lees ageing after fermentation. Intense, powerful and deliciously vibrant.
Chateau Haut-Mouleyre Blanc, Bordeaux, France
From Bordeaux's Entre-Deux-Mers, this pure blended white has fresh, crisp aromas of citrus and tropical fruit with a clean gooseberry character. There's a nice lick of passionfruit and pineapple on the palate with a hint of spice. Zipped up nice and tight and ready to drink. Nice to see a hat-tip to the new world style. Crunchy and delicious. 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Semillon.
Le Gilbert Chon Sauvignon Blanc, Loire Valley, France
A wonderful Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc from Gilbert Chon full of energy and spring from his 3-hectare vineyard of 'Le Haut Clos' in Saint-Julien-de-Concelles. Fresh, crisp and clean with a wonderful balance between citrus and tropical fruits with bright, uplifting acidity.
Paul Thomas Sancerre Chavignol, Loire Valley, France
Domaine Paul Thomas has the largest vineyard on the steeply sloping hill of Chavignol, in Les Mont Damnés, one of the finest areas for the production of top-class Sauvignon Blanc. The Domaine is under the watchful eye of Raphael Thomas, who is producing some of the most exciting wines in Sancerre. Bright, forward nose of lemon, green apple with underlying gooseberry notes. Vibrant and energetic on the palate with racy acidity that gives focus and direction. Deft touches of white pepper on the mineral-driven finish seal the deal.
