Get Savvy About Sauvignon Blanc

April 23, 2010 - PRLog -- Sauvignon Blanc: French, fruity and fabulous. The origins of the widely popular grape may be entrenched in the ripe vineyards of Bordeaux and the Loire Valley but its presence can now be found in the most far-flung of wine-producing nations. Marlborough, New Zealand is one such locale to have embraced the distinctly zingy, gooseberry twanged grapes, while closer to home the Loire Valley regions of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume are bottling wines more mineral and herby in style, refined over years of toil and millions of bottles.

Producers in South Africa, Australia and Chile also harvest the grape in all of its glory, from almost grassy in flavour to sweetly tropical dependent on the climate in which it’s nurtured.

Zesty and distinctive, the Sauvignon Blanc grape is also hardy and adaptable, easily moulded into a cornucopia of styles to satisfy all palates, from a delicious every day thirst quencher to extraordinary glasses full of flavour such as those of the Californian fine wine Fume Blanc.  Produced using oaked Sauvignon Blanc, the Napa Valley version has an unmistakable bright citrus, pineapple, lemon grass, and floral taste.

Wine merchant Majestic Wine stocks more than sixty examples of the ubiquitous grape. Sourced from the four corners of the globe, consume these Sauvignon Blancs young and paired with sushi or fish dishes.  

First up is the Southbank Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Marlborough, an elegant and sophisticated wine enveloping the senses with a tantalising hint of ripe gooseberries, tangy apples and freshly cut grass. It’s crisp, clean acidity makes it the perfect companion to seafood.

If spicy food is on the menu, there is no finer bottle to share than that of the La Motte Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Western Cape from South Africa. Not unlike the Southbank Estate, crisp and lively notes make it a refreshing choice, with a hint of zesty apple and gooseberry to tame the pallet.

For a taste of the tropical end of the Sauvignon style spectrum, the McGuigan Sauvignon Blanc 2009 South Eastern Australia is not to be missed. Citrus aromas compliment an overwhelmingly fruity taste with a final hint of vanillin; this fine wine suits a fresh fish dish on a warm spring evening.

When entertaining, dessert is an essential part of the menu; from Chile, the Concha y Toro Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2006/2007 Maule Valley 375ml Half-bottle compliments everything from cheesecake to cheese and biscuits. The varietals golden tones are reflected with aromas of papaya, peach and honey. Served chilled, the subtly fruity finish is the perfect way to end a lovely spring or summer meal.

For the ultimate in classic French wine, the Pouilly-Fumé Les Lys Blancs 2007 Marcel Sautejeau with its sumptuous aromas of lime and fresh cut grass is a winner. A smokey and dry finish balances out the initial citrus-led taste and is a great example of what the French have to offer in terms of Sauvignon Blanc. The exotic, tantalising Sancerre 'Les Baudrières' 2009 Dominique Baud is a further example of an exceptional Sauvignon Blanc sourced directly from the grape’s European heritage. The wine encompasses all the crisp, citrus, gooseberry flavours so often associated with the Sauvignon Blanc varietal, balanced perfectly with a restrained mineral elegance.

To view the complete selection of Sauvignon Blanc wines from Majestic Wine, visit www.majestic.co.uk.

About Majestic Wine UK
Majestic Wine Warehouses is the UK's biggest and best retailer specialising in sales of wine by the mixed case, with 153 stores throughout the UK. Majestic offers an extensive range of superb wines in large quantities, giving real choice and value.

Majestic’s staff are passionate about wine and are always on hand to give advice on what to buy. Majestic are also the only wine retailer to operate a FREE delivery service for cases of 12 bottles throughout mainland UK. For gifts of less than 12 bottles Majestic operates a Gift Solutions service at http://www.majestic.co.uk/About/GiftSolutions

Majestic Wine are also different from mail order and internet wine merchants, who may try to tempt you with artificial savings on a mixed case of indifferent wines. Their promotions often last several months at a time and boast hundreds of multibuy offers, which represent genuine savings. They are famous for their 'one-off' special parcels, which are worth looking out for!