Tasting Notes

Sauvignon Blanc has its origins in the Loire Valley and Bordeau regions of France. An indigenous grape grown in Southwestern France. The earliest recorded mention of the grape dates back to 1534. In the 18th century, Sauvignon Blanc was blended with Cabernet Franc to create the famous Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Sauvignon Blanc is an aromatic white grape variety that is well known for it’s distinctive herbaceous aromas and flavours.

🎯 Overall Character - Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, high-acidic white wine known for its vibrant citrus, green fruit, and herbaceous flavors, with regional variations ranging from mineral-driven to tropical fruit notes.

🌼 On the Nose (Aromatics) - Sauvignon Blanc offers primary aromas of lime zest, grapefruit and lemon. It complemented with green fruit aromas of green apple and gooseberry. Its trademark characteristic is the herbaceous nature of the grape. It provided aromas of green peppers, fresh-cut grass, bell pepper, jalapeño and nettle.
Grapes grown in warmer climates provide tropical aromas of passionfruit, guava and pineapple. The wine also has a distinctive mineral lift delivering aromas of flint, wet stone and chalk and floral aromas of elderflower and white blossom. Secondary aromas provided by the winemaking techniques used are subtle cream, almond and brioche as well as vanilla, smoke and sweet spice if aged in oak.

🍏 On the Palate - Sauvignon Blanc is a light to medium body wine with high bright acidity. It has a crisp texture unless it is aged in oak. If oak aged, the texture is more creamier and layered. Fruit flavours present are lime, green apple, gooseberry and herbal tone if grown in a cool / moderate climate. Warm climate Sauvignon Blanc offer tropical flavours of passionfruit, melon and ripe citrus. With subtle minerality, flint, chalk and saline also present.

🌍 Regional Style Differences:

• Loire Valley, France (Sancerre wine) -  Classic Sauvignon Blanc with citrus and herbal flavours with minerality and an elegant texture.

• Marlborough, New Zealand – Pronounced aromatics with flavours of passion fruit, gooseberry and jalapeno pepper.

• California, USA - Oak influenced style offering smoke and a creamy texture along with citrus and tropical fruit flavours.

• Casablanca, Chile – Lime and grapefruit flavours complemented with herbs and saline minerality.

• South Africa – Citrus and tropical fruit flavours with herbs, minerality and smoke.

• Niagara Region, Canada – High acidity with citrus and green fruit flavours and minerality.

🕰️ Aging Profile - Sauvignon Blanc can typically age between 3-5 years. It maintains its fruit and herbaceous aromas and flavours within this time. However, Sauvignon Blanc wines produce in Loire France or Bordeaux can age up to 10 years. As the wine ages, honey, lanolin and dried herbs aromas and flavours develop.