Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand 2022

Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand 2022

Another sauvignon blanc from New Zealand, Marlborough  (here you can read about the other sauvignon blanc wine from New Zealand I have reviewed, the Chloe one :  https://wineinamerica.wordpress.com/2022/05/15/chloe-sauvignon-blanc-marlborough-new-zealand-2020/  ) 

I had read good things about this Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc on LifesVoyager’s blog, and it was available at my usual wine store, Stirling Fine Wines in New Jersey for $16. LifesVoyager’s post can be read here : https://lifesvoyagercom.wordpress.com/2023/07/11/two-summertime-whites/

12% vol. Screw cap, vintage 2022. 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes, Marlborough appellation.

Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand 2022

Very pale yellow with pale translucent rim. No legs.

Nose : apple, citrus, herbal like angelica or artemisia (armoise / wormwood), a tad of anise-like scent. Very herbal but in the angelica/artemisia type of flavored herbs.

In mouth : crisp and fresh, very clean taste, green apple, citrus like lemon and also ruby grapefruit. A bit fizzy at first. Very light and pleasant to drink. A good summer wine or any season as far as I’m concerned.

Then after the green apple taste, some herbs (not the ones from the nose though). Very pleasant dry crisp and fresh wine for a very decent price here in the US ($16 and it’s imported). Some lime zest in the end of mouth, ruby grapefruit comes back at the end. 

I enjoyed it a lot, a nice change from the other white wines even Sauvignon Blanc from elsewhere because it’s so light and fresh to drink. 

After tasting we paired it with chicken orzo, another excellent recipe from Sheree from the blog View from the back, another of her recipes that has become one of our favorites. The recipe can be found here on her blog :  https://viewfromtheback.com/2023/08/19/the-musette-chicken-orzo/

This chicken orzo is sprinkled with truffle oil as per Sheree’s recommendations and my ! does it get the recipe to another level !

Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand 2022

Graves de Vayres Château Fage Bordeaux Blanc France 2021

Graves de Vayres Château Fage Bordeaux Blanc France 2021

A bordeaux in white this time, that I found randomly the other day while browsing at my usual wine joint here in Central New Jersey, Stirling Fine Wines.  Price was 9.60$. As the price was quite low, specially for a French wine, I decided to try it.

This White Bordeaux wine goes under the appellation Graves de Vayres which is a controlled appellation, not a high end in the Bordeaux controlled appellations though, specially when the whites are not what the region is known for, nor the most sought after in the Bordeaux region (except for the Sauternes of course). 12.5% vol, under cork. 60% semillon, 40% sauvignon blanc.

Graves de Vayres Château Fage Bordeaux Blanc France 2021

Bright pale yellow in glass, no rim no legs.

Nose : crisp and fresh, flowers like honeysuckle and also some honey. Very delicate and soft nose.

In mouth : lemon or rather lime with the sweetness of the lime rather than the tartness of lemon, and other citrus notes in general. honey, honeysuckle. Well rounded, almost creamy (but not buttery in the way some chardonnays are) creamy like a lemon custard. Slightly mineral and an elegant bitterness (very delicate) in middle mouth. Lime and lemon peel in the after mouth. A delicate and enjoyable wine.

After tasting, I paired it with chicken orzo, a recipe from Sheree from the blog View from the Back.

Graves de Vayres Château Fage Bordeaux Blanc France 2021

Chateau Ste Michelle Washington State Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Chateau Ste Michelle Washington State Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2021

I have reviewed a couple of wines from this great winery in Columbia Valley, Washington State, that you can read here : https://wineinamerica.wordpress.com/tag/ste-michelle/

Last time I reviewed their higher end Sauvignon Blanc, the one from the sub region Horse Heaven Hills, read here : https://wineinamerica.wordpress.com/2022/03/27/chateau-ste-michelle-washington-state-columbia-valley-horse-heaven-hills-sauvignon-blanc-2019/

Now is the time for their regular Sauvignon Blanc, this is also from Columbia Valley in Washington State but not from the Horse Heaven Hills subregion.

Chateau Ste Michelle Washington State Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2021

12.5% vol. under cork, vintage 2021. I tasted it in the small French INAO glasses. $10 here at my local wine store Stirling Fine Wines in Stirling, New Jersey. (as opposed to $13 for the one from Horse Heaven Hills)

Website : https://www.ste-michelle.com

Chateau Ste Michelle Washington State Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Very pale yellow in glass, almost translucent, translucent rim, no legs.

Nose : crisp and fresh, citrus and mineral mainly, some grapefruit notes too (yellow grapefruit).

In mouth : slightly fizzy (2021 so very recent vintage). Crisp and fresh, very clean taste, citrus, a slight herbal bitterness. Excellent. This is really a go to Sauvignon Blanc, furthermore for that price, $10, that would pair nicely with the summer and light seafood or vegetable dishes.

The one from Horse Heaven Hills is a tad above as expected, but this one shall not be dismissed, specially at that price.

Another excellent wine from Ste Michelle, as usual I would say.

After the tasting we paired it with zucchini, mozzarella and mint crumble.

Chateau Ste Michelle Washington State Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2021

The Dreaming Tree Sauvignon Blanc California 2020

The Dreaming Tree Sauvignon Blanc California 2020

California, 13.5% vol. Screw cap, vintage 2020. I tasted it in my Le Deux wine glasses. $12 here in Stirling, New Jersey.

Website : https://dreamingtreewines.com

The Dreaming Tree Sauvignon Blanc California 2020

Very pale pastel yellow with transparent rim. Small irregular legs.

Nose : mineral, citrus, green, green apple.

In mouth : a bit faint and weak, green apple, mineral,herbal (angelica ?)

It’s quite a decent and good wine for a good price. My son enjoyed it, he found it easy to drink.

It has however more nose than taste. Some pomelo and some bitterness in the after mouth.

We paired it with a warm orzo salad with shrimps (from Sheree’s blog, View from the Back)

The Dreaming Tree Sauvignon Blanc California 2020

Chloe Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand 2020

Chloe Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand 2020

Another sauvignon blanc but from New Zealand for a change (here you can read about all the other sauvignon blanc wines I have reviewed so far, mainly from Washington State or California :  https://wineinamerica.wordpress.com/?s=sauvignon+blanc  ) 

I had read good things on LifesVoyager’s blog on that particular one from Chloe, and I knew it was readily available at my usual wine store, Stirling Fine Wines in New Jersey, because I had seen it in big stacks at the ends of the aisles, and the name was easy to remember and to spot. LifesVoyager’s post can be read here : https://lifesvoyager.com/2021/10/07/chloe-sauvignon-blanc/

The only difference is the vintage, as for me I just found the 2020 vintage the other day. Price was $11.

12.5% vol. Screw cap, vintage 2020. 

Chloe Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand 2020

Chloe Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand 2020

Very pale, almost transparent with a faint beige tone that distinguishes it from water in the glass. No rim, slightly fizzy, some gas bubbles on the side of the glass, no legs.

Nose : crisp and fresh, citrus, herbal, mineral (silex), some faint and subtle pineapple notes.

In mouth : fizzy at first, mineral, herbal, slightly bitter, very crisp and refreshing. Fruit : some green apple notes and some of its tartness, then citrus plus some tropical / exotic fruits sweet notes (pineapple). It’s a dry wine but with some sweetness in the tasting notes : tropical / exotic fruits such as pineapple and lichee. Very pleasant. A hint of grapefruit in the after mouth.

After the tasting, we paired it with zucchini risotto and grilled fish (flounder).

Very pleasant wine, very good.

Chloe Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand 2020

Chateau Ste Michelle Washington State Columbia Valley Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Chateau Ste Michelle Washington State Columbia Valley Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Another wine for the sub wine region of Columbia Valley in Washington State, the sub region Horse Heaven Hills, which also never disappoint. Here is a white wine from that Horse Heaven Hill sub region, a sauvignon blanc from Chateau Ste Michelle which is one of the biggest producer of the Columbia Valley area.

Chateau Ste Michelle Washington State Columbia Valley Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2019

100% sauvignon blanc,12.5% vol. under cork, vintage 2019. I tasted it in my Le Deux wine glasses. $13 here at my local wine store Stirling Fine Wines in Stirling, New Jersey.

Website : https://www.ste-michelle.com

Chateau Ste Michelle Washington State Columbia Valley Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Very pale yellow bright and translucent, translucent rim, irregular medium legs.

Nose : lemon, citrus, flowery, mineral, herbs, a hint of honey and honeysuckle flower, a hint of green.

In mouth : crisp and fresh, lemony, citrusy, mineral, slightly bitter, chalk, some light spices. A bit fizzy on the tongue at first. 

Chateau Ste Michelle Washington State Columbia Valley Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2019

This is yet another very good sauvignon blanc from Washington State, Columbia Valley wine region and even better Horse Heaven Hills sub region

An excellent Sauvignon Blanc for a very good price.

After the tasting we paired it with some leek quiche. It was so good that I finished the bottle by myself, after the dinner with my son who shared the first half of the bottle with me, pairing it with a nice movie. 

Chateau Ste Michelle Washington State Columbia Valley Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2019

14 Hands Washington State Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2020

14 Hands Washington State Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2020

I have reviewed 2 other 14 Hands wines, both reds, that are excellent and highly recommended. Read here :  https://wineinamerica.wordpress.com/?s=14+hands   I wanted to try their white wine offering, so here it is the 14 Hands Sauvignon Blanc.

100% sauvignon blanc,13.5% vol. Screw cap, vintage 2020. I tasted it in my Le Deux wine glasses. $11 here in Stirling, New Jersey.

Website : https://www.14hands.com

14 Hands Washington State Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Very pale yellow almost translucent, slightly fizzy, wide transparent rim, irregular medium legs.

Nose : fruity, citrus, pear, flowers (honeysuckle), honey, very soft and pleasant scent, some minerals and herbs (angelica)

In mouth : citrus, lemon, honey, honeysuckle, light and airy. Very pleasant wine.

All in all an excellent Sauvignon Blanc for a very good price.

After the tasting we paired it with some shrimps served with rice and brocolis.

14 Hands Washington State Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2020

14 Hands Washington State Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Pomelo Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc California 2019

Pomelo Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc California 2019

California, 100% sauvignon blanc, 13% vol. Screw cap, vintage 2019. Mason cellars, Napa, California. I tasted it in my Le Deux wine glasses. $10 here in Stirling, New Jersey.

Website : www.pomelowine.com

Pomelo Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc California 2019

Very pale yellow leaning towards grey. Very irregular and super short legs.

Nose : citrus, mainly lemon, green apple. The main note is lemon, a hint of honey in the background.

In mouth : not green at all, very smooth but not sweet nor sugary at all, just smooth. The main note is also lemon, I cannot taste the green apple I had in the nose. Very lemony, crisp and refreshing. This white Sauvignon Blanc wine is not mineral at all : mainly lemony with a slight bitterness that keeps it refreshing. A little fizzy at first also, the fizziness vanishes after a while in the glass.

Pomelo notes in the after mouth with a slight bitterness that reminds of pomelo too.

Pomelo Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc California 2019

My son liked it too. We paired it with some roasted bok choy, sautéed in the pan with garlic, pepper and a splash of lemon juice served with plain Chinese noodles seasoned with ponzu sauce. It paired remarkably well with that dish due to both their lemony nature (the wine and the seasoning of the bok choy).

Very pleasant wine, very good.

Pomelo Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc California 2019