Scoop up these Sauvignons before they vanish
Sauvignon Blanc is ragingly popular right now. We bought 12 million bottles of it in the past year here in Ontario, up from about 11 million the year before and six million a decade ago.
Sales of Sauvignon Blanc from every producing country are through the roof, but New Zealand leads the charge with its grab-you-by-the-jugular style that refreshes like a thing possessed. But which bottles are best?
The following five will have you at hello — including two brandnew releases.
2015 Nederburg 56 Hundred Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa (LCBO 448878 $11.10)
Tastes like a Pinot Grigio on steroids with tightly coiled concentration that releases lively, steely flavours laced with coy suggestions of polished marble, passion fruit, fresh fig and melon tapering to a long, dried fig finish. More mineral than tropical or vegetal, this dry, racy and uber stylish expression of Sauvignon Blanc offers fantabulous value. Hats off to the General List buyer who found this gem. Pour it with plain, salted potato chips. Score: 90+ 2015 Errazuriz Estate Series Sauvignon Blanc, Chile (LCBO 263574 $13.95)
Love the way this cool, clean wine balances pristine tropical fruit flavours with intriguing stony-salty underpinnings to create a forward-yet-sophisticated drop. Think of it as an instant whip of gooseberry flavour that curls back to reveal notes of wet stones, sea salt and grapefruit oil. The finish is long and racy, scraping the palate clean. Sassy style that is simply magic with a goat cheese and walnut salad in the midday sun. Score: 89 2015 Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand (LCBO 426601 $17.15 now but drops to $13.15 from July 28 to August 3; also comes in half bottle sizes at — LCBO 424630 $8.95)
Consistently well-made vintage after vintage, this wine’s fullthrottle flavour is immediately captivating. The immediate attack of juicy guava fruit is dappled with orange, lemon and lime, and underpinned with notes of coriander, parsley and grapefruit zest, creating an intriguingly complex experience. Clean, satiny and versatile, this trade favourite is particularly terrific with fresh green pea soup finished with crème fraîche or shards of sharp cheese on toasted flat bread. Score: 90 2015 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand (LCBO 308288 $19.15)
Love this silky-peachy-gorgeous expression of Sauvignon Blanc that forms rip-roaring vinous rumba in the mouth. Pronounced aromas and flavours of chin-drip peach, juicy apricot and mixed citrus saturate the palate and linger for ages. It’s a sun-drenched quencher that works as well as a cocktail as it does with a meal. Pour it with a broad range of dishes such as asparagus and pesto, chili-basted grilled prawns or curried fish. Score: 92 2015 Kim Crawford Small Parcels Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand (Vintages 38240 $24.95)
This wine hit Vintages shelves Saturday and won’t last because it tastes better than a double dip of lemon-lime sorbet on a hot summer day. Think quick lick of citric sherbet that tapers to suggest lemon meringue pie with a nicely browned top. Even the texture mimics lemon meringue pie, expanding with a mouth-filling sensation and finishing with a tart zip. But it’s bone dry and works well on its own or with food — especially seared scallops.
Score: 91