Chapter 10 - Sav Blanc

Question 1

Describe the Sav Blanc grape and what you would expect of it

Answer 1

Aromatic white grape variety. Usually displays strong aromas of green fruit and vegetables (gooseberry, elderflower, green pepper, asparagus). High in acidity, medium bodied and almost always dry.

Question 2

What climate does Sav Blanc prefer?

Answer 2

Need a cool climate to show its herbaceous aromatic character, although will tolerate moderate climates but may lack it’s intense pungent aromatic complexity from cool climate sites.

Question 3

How is oak used for Sav Blanc?

Answer 3

Mostly not at all, because the priority is fresh fruit. Those that are oaked are usually from moderate climates and oak adds toast and spice (vanilla, liquorice).

Question 4

What other style of wine can be made with Sav Blanc? Why?

Answer 4

Sweet wines, because of the high acidity

Question 5

What is the ageing potential of Sav Blanc?

Answer 5

Does not benefit from ageing in bottle - they may last but will lose the attractive freshness and go stale.

Question 6

What regions in France produce Sav Blanc?

Answer 6

Loire Valley

Bordeaux

Question 7

Describe the Loire Valley production (villages and type of wines produced)

Answer 7

Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé
Cool climate results in dry white wines with high acidity, medium body and moderate or pronounced aromas. Have green fruit and herbaceous aromas (gooseberry, grass, black currant leaf, nettle) and often display a steely character similar to Chablis.

Question 8

Describe the production in Bordeaux. What is Sav Blanc from here like?

Answer 8

Mostly blend of Sémillon and Sav Blanc with Sémillon dominating. Sav Blanc alone is fruity with distinct herbaceous characters, grassy and elderflower aromas and is unsuited to ageing.

Question 9

What does Sémillon add when blended with Sav Blanc?

Answer 9

Generally helps sustain fruit character and allows complexity to develop in the bottle. Sémillon can add body too. Alone Sémillon can be a bit bland and neutral in youth so the Sav Blanc brings aromatic fruit character and refreshing acidity.

Question 10

What would you expect of a Bordeaux Sav Blanc?

Answer 10

Blended with Sémillon, dry with medium or high acidity, medium-full bodied, sometimes with oaky flavours.

Question 11

What are the best examples of Sav Blanc from

Bordeaux?

Answer 11

Cru classé like those from Pessac-Leognan AC and the best Graves AC wines.

Question 12

Ageing of Sav Blanc in Bordeaux?

Answer 12

The best Bordeauxs like Pessac-Leognan AC and the best from Graves AC age well and develop honeyed, toasty complex flavours in the bottle.

Question 13

What is the main Sav Blanc region in NZ? Describe the style

Answer 13

Marlborough is a classic for expressive Sav Blanc. There is a full range of styles from restrained or those with hints of oak or lees, or full bodied.

Question 14

What is the classic Sav Blanc style from Marlborough? When should the be consumed?

Answer 14

The classic style is dry, with high acidity, no oak, medium bodied and characterised by intense, pungent, clean, varietal flavours (black current lead, passionfruit, green pepper, gooseberry). Best consumed youthful and fresh although some enjoy the vegetable notes that develop in the bottle (asparagus, snowpea).

Question 15

How do NZ Sav Blancs differ from those from the Loire Valley?

Answer 15

Typically more aromatically pronounced

Question 16

Where in Australia produces the best Sav Blancs? Describe them

Answer 16

Adelaide Hills. Intensely fruity and clean in style.

Question 17

What are the main Sav Blanc regions in the USA? What is the climate like? Comment on oaking.

Answer 17

California: Napa Valley. Often labelled as Fumé Blanc. The climate is a bit too warm for the herbaceous characteristics to be retained. Depending on the producer the style may be unoaked, lightly oaked or even heavily oaked.

Question 18

What would you expect of an oaked fumé blanc compared with the oaked chardonnays of the same region? (napa)

Answer 18

The SBs are generally less full bodied and higher in acidity. Some of the varietal characters shine through the spicy, okay flavours.

Question 19

What style of Sav Blanc does Chile produce and what are the main regions?

Answer 19

Herbaceous, fruit-led premium Sav Blanc. Cooler regions like Casablanca and San Antonio. These wines tend to be highly aromatic, refreshingly fruity, with aromas of citrus, green apple and grassy notes

Question 20

What 2 styles of Sav Blanc does South Africa produce?

Answer 20

High quality Sav Blancs in two styles:

• some are pungent and fruit driven like NZ ones but usually lighter in body and less intense and complex
• others use oak to make a wine that is less pungent but can age in bottle gaining toasty complexity

Question 21

What are the regions with particular reputations for Sav Blanc in South Africa? What feature contributes to this reputation?

Answer 21

Constantia and Elgin. Both have cooling influences which allow the grapes to ripen late and produce intense fresh Sav Blancs.

Constantia due to cooling air from the sea
Elgin due to altitude

Question 22

What are the main bulk production regions for Sav Blanc?

Answer 22

France: AC (eg Touraine), basic Bordeaux AC (blended with Sémillon), Val de Loire IGP and Pays d’Oc IGP

Chile
California
South Africa

Question 23

What is Sav Blanc blended with and where?

Answer 23

Dry white Bordeaux: Sémillon dominant
Sauternes: sweet wine made with muscadelle and Sémillon
Sémillon also popular in Australia, USA and Chile but demand is decreasing