Chapter 11 - Sauvignon Blanc Flashcards
Characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc
- Aromatic white grape variety
- Produces dry wines with distinctive herbaceous aromas and refreshing high acidity
- Light to medium body, high acidity
- Initially from France, now available around the world
- Mostly unoaked
- Best consumed while young and fresh
Taste profile of Sauvignon Blanc
- Pronounced herbaceous (grass, green bell pepper/capsicum, asparagus) and floral (blossom) aromas
- Primary flavours vary according to ripeness: from green fruits (apple, gooseberry) and wet stones to riper flavours of tropical fruit (passion fruit)
- Complexity can be added by blending grapes from different vineyards with varying degree of ripeness
Production of Sauvignon Blanc
- Mostly single-varietal, sometimes blended with Semillon
- Mostly matured in inert vessels
- Best consumed when young, otherwise wines may develop unattractive vegetal aromas
What are the most important countries for Sauvignon Blanc production?
- France
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Chile
- South Africa
- USA
What are characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc from Loire?
- Only grape variety permitted in Sancerre AOC and Pouilly-Fumé
- Cool climate
- Dry wines, high acidity, aromas of green fruit (apple), herbaceous notes (grass, asparagus), sometimes wet stone
- Sometimes found under the label Touraine AOC west of Sancerre: fruity, often inexpensive
What are characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux?
- Bordeaux AOC: fresh aromas of grass and green apple
- Grave AOC and Pessac-Léognan AOC: more concentrated and complex
- Typically blended with Sémillon to add body and help with aging
- Very good wines are often matured in oak to develop constant flavours of hones and nuts in the bottle
What are the characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc from South of France?
- Much of South of France too warm for Sauvignon Blanc
- Dry, high in acidity, tropical-fruit flavours (passion fruit) and herbaceous notes (grass)
What are the characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand?
- Cool to moderate climate in Malborough
- More pronounced characteristics than Loire Sauvignon Blancs
- Often made from grape blends from different sites and ripeness levels, hence broad range of fruit flavours (lemon, peach, passion fruit) and pronounced green-bell-pepper and asparagus aromas
- Much experimentation beyond classic style: grapes from cooler vineyards (style similar to Loire), small amounts of oak or lees to add copmlexity/body
What are the characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc from Australia?
- Single variety and blends with Sémillon
- Concentrated herbaceous aromas (grass), some produced in contact with oak
- Adelaide Hill: most widely planted grape. Cooled by altitude and ocean breezes, fresh and fruity wines. Citrus to tropical fruit. Sometimes blended with Sémillon for fullier-bodied wines
What are the characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc from Chile?
- Casablanca Valley: Very good quality Sauvignon Blanc, cooled by sea breezes and morning fog
- Central Valley: broad range of quality (inexpensive to very good)
What are the characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa?
- Plantings concentrated in coastal regions
- Constantia south of Cape Town: cooles by sea breezes. refreshing wines with ripe tropical-fruit and herbaceous aromas
- Elgin: cooled by altitude, cited as coolest wine region in South Africa. Wines show green-fruit flavours, sometimes aromas of wet stones
What are the characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc from the US?
- California mostly too warm for herbaceous style of Sauvignon Blanc
- Cooler areas of Napa Valle: harvested early to retain acidity and herbaceous aromas, sometimes made in contact with oak
What are noteworthy facts about Sauvignon Blanc today?
- Distinctive, recognisable and popular flavours
- Refreshing, enjoyable with and without food
- Experimentation beyond herbaceous notes to keep the wine interesting for consumers long-term
