It's 92 degrees on a hot summer day here in Atlanta as I write this - the perfect time to crack a cool Sauvignon Blanc, and I thought this Joel Gott bottle for $9.99 would be a good fit. And it was.
I should be honest about the fact that I'm on a bit of an anti-Sauvignon Blanc kick at the moment. In writing our Italian wine book, and exploring different whites from the around the world, I've come to love those from Italy, Spain and France. And the prices on those bottles won't break the bank. I've just found an Albarino, or a Loire bottle or a Verdicchio to offer more flavor, more complexity and really, just provide a more interesting experience.
That said, there's a time for a California Sauvignon Blanc. It's usually a hot day, like this, after mowing the grass.
This wine is pretty clear in color, light yellow. On the nose there's hints of citrus fruit and some stoniness. In the mouth, flavors of lemon, a bit of green apple and pineapple. Finishes dry with some tart. Overall, not a bad wine at all for $10, actually surprised me.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 86 Points
Costco item number: 335662
Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA
Joe Roberts says
There is probably a place for Sauvignon Blanc----- due to its tartness it desperately needs some food to off-set it. But as a summer sipper??? No thanks. First is the aforementioned tartness (others refer to it as cat pee) when other white wines have some great fruit flavors. But the worst part is that the tartness or "dry-ness" of S.B. occurs because most of the sugar has been fermented, resulting in a high alcohol wine. I note the wine above is listed as 13.9%. Who needs that on a hot and humid summer day when your thirst is causing you to throw down excessive amounts of liquid?? I'll take one of the fruit-filled Italians any day or maybe even a German Riesling that rings in at 8 or 9% alcohol--- and I won't be semi-comatose after the third glass of it.
Sorry we disagree on this one. As you can tell, S.B. is one of my least favorite grapes.
admin says
Thanks for sharing your opinion. That's what this site is for.