SAUVIGNON BLANC Flashcards
Sancerre/Pouilly-Fumé
Sight: pale to medium straw with green highlights.
Nose: grapefruit-lemon/lime citrus notes with
–pronounced chalky minerality, herbal-grass and white flower notes.
Palate:
light to medium-bodied and
very dry to bone dry.
–Use of little or no wood typical is typical for Sancerre
while use of partial or all new wood can be found in Pouilly-Fumé.
Structure:
alcohol: medium to medium-plus;
acidity: medium-plus to high.
ID Keys: the combination of tart citrus, herbal notes with the minerality often taking centre stage. Look for oak in Pouilly-Fumé but not in Sancerre. Not easily confused with New Zealand Sauvignons because there’s less fruit and less aggressive grass/herb/vegetal notes and striking minerality.
New Zealand
Sight: very pale straw with green and silver highlights.
Nose: pronounced grapefruit and lime citrus notes with gooseberry, grass, and green herb notes;
some wines can be aggressively vegetal with elements of asparagus, green bean and bell pepper/jalapeño.
Other wines have
a touch of minerality while still others are pungently vegetal.
Palate:
medium-bodied and dry with emphasis on mouth-watering,
juicy citrus fruit.
Oak is almost never used.
Structure:
alcohol: medium to medium-plus;
acidity: medium-plus to high.
ID Keys: intense citrus and herbal/vegetal flavours combined with tart acidity are keys to recognizing New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Some wines have an impression of “sweet” tropical (passion fruit) and pink grapefruit notes as well. Other wines can be overtly vegetal with canned green bean or asparagus notes.
