Sauvignon Blanc

Question 1

Characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc:

Answer 1

• Aromatic, strong aromas of green fruit and vegetation (gooseberry, elderflower, green bell pepper, asparagus)- High acidity (suitable for sweet wines)
• Medium bodied
• Almost always dry
• They do not benefit with bottle age

Question 2

What are the climates and characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc?

Answer 2

• Cool climate: will display its herbaceous character
• Warmer climate: lack the aromatic complexity from premium, cool climate sites. Grapes lose characteristics.
• In CA’s warmer climates have to maintain grapes
• Oak is added in moderate regions, toast and spice (vanilla, licorice)

Question 3

Where is Sauvignon Blanc grown in France?

Answer 3

Loire Central:
- Sancerre
- Pouilly-Fumé
Bordeaux:
- Pessac-Léognan AC
- Graves AC
- Sauternes (as a sweet wine)

Question 4

What are characteristics of the Loire Central Sauvignon Blanc?

Answer 4

• Cool climate
• Dry white wines
• High acidity
• Med body
• Moderate or pronounced aromas with varietal green fruit and herbaceous notes (gooseberry, grass, blackcurrant leaf, nettle) and often a hint of smokiness but more restrained than SB from NZ

Question 5

What are the characteristics of Bordeaux SB?

Answer 5

• Most premium white is a blend with Sèmillon with the Sèmillon dominating.
• Sèmillon helps sustain the fruit character and allows complexity to develop in the bottle and can add body.
• SB can add aromatic fruit character and refreshing acidity.
• Dry wines
• Med-to-high acidity
• Med-to-full body
• Sometimes with oak flavors
• The best whites from Cru Classé Châteaux in the Pessac-Léognan AC and Graves AC age well and develop honeyed, toasty complex flavors in the bottle.

Question 6

Where is the best SB grown in NZ?

Answer 6

Marlborough, cool climate in South Island, NZ

Question 7

Characteristics of SB in NZ?

Answer 7

• New classic region
• Expressive (aromatic)
  Classic style:
• Dry
• High acidity
• No oak (temp control, stainless steal)
• Medium-bodied
• Characterized by intense, pungent, clean, varietal flavors (passion fruit, gooseberry, green pepper, blackcurrant leaf)
• Best consumed while young; though, some enjoy the vegetable (asparagus, pea) notes that develop in the bottle

Question 8

Where do the best SB come from in Australia? What are the characteristics?

Answer 8

• Adelaide Hills

- Intensely fruity and clean in style

Question 9

Where are SB made in CA?

Answer 9

• Napa Valley
• Most of CA is too warm for the herbaceous characters- Unoaked, lightly or even heavily oaken. Oaked Fumé Blanc are generally a little less full-bodied, and higher in acidity
• Some of the herbaceous varietal characters (grass, asparagus) usually shine through the spicy, oaky flavors (toast, licorice, vanilla)
• Overall lightly less assertive

Question 10

Where are SB grown in Chile? What are the characteristics?

Answer 10

• Casablanca
• San Antonio
• Sucks cold air in from the ocean
• Herbaceous, fruit-led premium SB

Question 11

What are two styles of SB in Africa?

Answer 11

• Pungent and fruit-driven but usually less intense and complex
• Oak to make a wine that is less pungent, can age in the bottle, gaining toasty complexity. Follow Bordeaux model but more intense herbaceous character.

Question 12

Where are bulk-production of inexpensive SB grown?

Answer 12

France:
- Loire, France, some is AC wine, such as Touraine AC- Bordeaux AC (mainly SB-Sémillon blends)
- Val de Loire and Pays d’Oc IGPs
Chile, CA and South Africa

Question 13

What is SB blended with? Where is it made?

Answer 13

Sémillon: Bordeaux (Includes white Bordeaux and Sauternes wines), Australia, US, Chile