Cool White on a Warm Night

The leaves are beginning to rustle in the wind, whispering, "summer's gone, autumn's coming". But we still have a few warm days and warm nights left to enjoy the chilled sauvignon blanc. Friends were over to celebrate another weekend of beautiful Indian-summer-like weather, the picnic dinner had been served, and it was a great time to break out this fresh, fruit-filled sauvignon blanc.

Most recently I've been enjoying the sauvignon blancs from the Marlboro region of New Zealand, but this particular S.B. was billed as twice the value at half the price. The wine store indicated that if this were sold under it's regular, "high-end" label, instead of under the Maxwell Creek brand, it would command a much higher price. Never one to walk away from a bargain, I decided to give it a shot.

This 2008 white wine was chilled perfectly, 1/2 hour in the fridge and 5 minutes uncorked before pouring. Served after dinner with wine and cheese, it was a lovely, crisp accompaniment to the sharp cheddar and creamy gouda. This truly was one of the better SB's I've tried in a while. Sharply sweet aroma of grapefruit and pear swirled in the glass and mixed with a hint of pineapple to provide a sweet yet dry taste. It had a nice long finish, and an intensity of flavor I hadn't experienced with many sauvignon blancs. Very light and fresh, it provided the perfect balance of acidity and fruitiness. I enjoyed it with the cheese, crackers and grapes, but it would be a nice addition to any fish or chicken dinner, and equally refreshing on its own.