He told me it would change my life. And that sounded good. To celebrate International Sauvignon Blanc Day I was looking for something crisp, expressive and a little different from the Sauvs I’d enjoyed in the past.

When I first walked into Royal Park Fine Wines in Strongsville, Sommelier George Zaboura listened carefully to the basic flavor profile I was looking for, then immediately took me over to the 2018 Whitehaven from Marlborough, NZ. “It will change your life.”, he said. And hey, if my life can be changed for under $20, I’m in!

The general profile of Sauvignon Blanc is dominated by a fruity, fresh quality with aromas of green fruit, and vegetables like green bell pepper and asparagus. The classic New Zealand Sauv style is dry, high acid, no oak, and zesty flavors of passion fruit, gooseberry, green pepper, and black currant leaf. The herbaceous qualities can be a deal breaker for some who prefer their white wines to be a festival of fruit. Yet the green features can make these wines that much more interesting to drink, and to pair with food.

This wine was incredible! Zesty essences of grapefruit and passion fruit wafted up from the first pour into the glass. Its high acidity was crisp and refreshing and made it bouncy on the tongue. Flavors of tangy white peach, black currant, and the gentle kick of green pepper made this delightful. It was a great expression of the style.

Most Sauvs are best enjoyed young, although this can be cellared for three to five years to bring out more of the asparagus quality of gently aged Sauvs.

Suggested pairings:

• Summer salads
• Chicken
• Lobster
• White fish

At a price point of $17.99, this Sauvignon Blanc did change my life in a big way. This is now my go-to white wine for the Summer of ’19.

George was right!

Cheers!

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