Sauvignon Blanc From Sonoma-Cutrer: For You, For Gifts
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The first vintage of Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay Russian River Ranches* was launched in 1981. We had our first bottle of it in 1983, and it was love at the first buttery Burgundy-ish sip. It has won many fans and numerous awards in the ensuing years. More Chardonnay vineyards were added. In 2002, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir was added. Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc was a limited release in the early 2014, and received such positive feedback that it became part of the permanent line. Last year saw the launch of Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc, made from grapes grown in various vineyards across Sonoma County. The 2024 vintage was just released and we scored a bottle, which is only available at the winery or on the website. Total production was small: just 300 cases. Bottled in early February 2023 and ready to drink now, the wine will sell quickly. When the weather gets warm, heavier foods get traded for lighter ones, and so do the wines. So for a welcome Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift for a Sauvignon Blanc fan, head to SonomaCutrer.com and stake your claim (that’s California Gold Rush talk, but it seems to be appropriate here). The flavors and aromas are classic, sure to please the savvy Sauvignon Blanc fan. The aromas yield lime and grassiness (i.e., fresh cut green grass). Super-noses may detect lychee, guava, pineapple, and rose, with an ever so slight minerality. On the palate there’s more lime, plus melon and passionfruit. There’s a lovely acid backbone, crisp and balanced. The body and alcohol level are both medium, which is good for Sauvignon Blanc.
The Sauvignon Blanc grape produces refreshing, dry, white wines with one of two key flavor profiles: grapefruit/citrus or grassy/herbaceous, depending on the terroir†. Both are delicious. The wine is known for high acidity, light to medium body and medium alcohol. It is most often unoaked. It is also very affordable, with bottles available from around $10, many in the $12 to $15 range, and the finest of the breed (such as Sancerre’s Ladoucette Comte Lafond) in the $35 to $45 range. By comparison, Chablis is double the price, with Grüner Veltliner in the middle. (If you like white wines such as Chablis and Grüner Veltliner, you’ll likely be a fan of Sauvignon Blanc.) Its acid backbone complements everything from plateaux de fruits de mer (raw seafood platters) and grilled chicken and fish to buttery sauces and rich cheeses. The grape was first cultivated in the Loire Valley of France, and the Loire’s great chèvres (goat cheeses), are the wine’s most popular cheese pairings. > Styles of Sauvignon Blanc by world regions. > The history of Sauvignon Blanc. |
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 [6] Another perfect pairing: oysters on the half shell and Sauvignon Blanc (image created by ChatGPT 20225-04-24). ________________ *The Russian River Valley is a distinct American Viticultural Area (A.V.A.) within Sonoma County. Centered around the Russian River in the center of the County, the region is well-known for growing fine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes on the rolling hills and valleys surrounding the river. †Pronounced tuhr-WAH, terroir is the French expression for sense of place, the unique environment in which something grows—its specific soil composition and microclimate. Microclimate includes temperature, amount of sunshine and rain. The flavor nuances of agricultural products, from grapes to olives to milk to cacao, is a function of its terroir.
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