2014 Girard Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

Alright, so I've had this bottle for a while. I meant to review it shortly after I first bought it, but alas- it was overlooked in the sea of Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs that I've got stacked on the fourth shelf of my refrigerator.

Be on the lookout for a comparative review of those in the upcoming weeks. The newest release of Girard, the 2015 I believe, is currently available in select Costco warehouses.

I had to use a corkscrew to open this bottle, which as you may know is not the status quo for Sauvignon Blanc these days. Even higher-end producers such as Duckhorn have switched from cork to cap in an effort to both maintain bright and crisp flavors while also reducing the number of corked bottles that the winery will eventually have to account for.

But anyways, back to the juice. The wine opens with a pleasantly fragrant aroma of lemon meringue pie and pear. On the palate, the acidity, so often allowed to skyrocket with this grape, is kept in check and balanced by a subtle sweetness on the midpalate. The finish is clean and smooth.

The back of the bottle explains that the wine is fermented in stainless steel and with no malolactic fermentation. The winery also writes that ripeness and fullness is achieved from picking the grapes later in the season. I like the end result of this: pronounced fruit aromas and flavors without the weight of oak or malo.

Wine Spectator gives this wine 89 points and the 2015 vintage 88 points. The reviewer, “MW” mentions chamomile in his 2014 review, which I didn't get, and describes the 2015 much like I have in this review, with “notes of pear and white flowers… this smooth-bodied version ends with a pop of acidity.” I give this wine a solid 89 points.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 Points

Purchased in Buford, GA

ABV: 13.9%

Costco Item Number: 461279 ($13.99)