The note that makes Sauvignon Blanc immediately recognizable even to wine laymen is the characteristic smell of "cat pee," a rather wild fragrance – in line with the grape from which it comes: the name Sauvignon derives from the French word sauvage, wild, probably because when left without proper care, the vine appears quite neglected and wild.
A bit like stray cats, wary and grumpy at first but then, learning to appreciate the company and comforts offered by humans, they turn into affectionate and cuddly companions!
Thus, having "overcome" the first impact with the characteristic smell – which soon fades, giving way to floral, fruity, and refined notes – even the domesticated Sauvignon "opens up" in the mouth, offering very pleasant and fresh sensations and accompanying many foods and dishes.
Where does Sauvignon come from and where is it grown?
The grape variety is white-skinned, preferring marl, limestone, and clay soils where it expresses itself at its best; the clusters range from small to medium size and are compact; the berries are small, spherical, and have a yellow-greenish skin.
Its origin is in the Loire, in France but its wild nature has allowed it to acclimate very well almost everywhere in the world – so much so that today it is in the top ten most widely planted grape varieties in the world with more than 120,000 hectares (data processed in 2017 by O.I.V. the International Organisation of Vine and Wine.
If even today the most suitable territories are French, particularly Pouilly-sur-Loire and Sancerre from which the classic, mineral, and slightly "fumé" expression comes, excellent expressions are also found in New Zealand (Marlborough), where it is characterized by explosive tropical fruit aromas and intensity; South Africa (Stellenbosch), with warmer tendencies, chalky tones, and riper fruit; California (USA), softer; Chile and other regions of South America. In Italy, its preferred regions are Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, and Alto Adige.
Organoleptic characteristics
The aromatic profile is intense and varied: it can include notes of citrus (grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin), aromatic herbs (cut grass, tomato leaves, green pepper, tea), fruit – apple, quince, melon or tropical fruit (mango, banana, papaya), depending on where the grapes grow. In the more evolved versions, especially those aged in barrels, Sauvignon Blanc also takes on complex and intense notes of spices and flint.
The aromas of Sauvignon Blanc are extremely pleasant; the aspect to really consider concerns the herbaceous notes which, if too pronounced, do not indicate very high quality – they are the effect of premature harvesting, done when the grapes were not yet perfectly ripe.
The smell of cat pee actually comes from organic compounds, the “thiols” or a specific molecule (4-methyl-4-mercaptopentan-2-one) which has a strong scent of boxwood. So, if you want to make a good impression, remember to indicate the boxwood plant as responsible for the smell – it is definitely more refined than referring to cats!
On the palate and at the table
The alcohol content varies on average between 11% and 13%, always maintaining a balance between light body and elegant structure. We recommend serving it at 10-12° C in a medium glass.
On the palate, Sauvignon reveals itself as dry, fresh, and lively, with a marked acidity that leads to a long and savory finish. It is a wine that displays extraordinary freshness, bold acidity, and exciting flavors of herbs and fruit, making it ideal to accompany vegetable-based dishes – especially asparagus! – for aperitifs, perhaps by the shores of a lake or the sea at sunset; or to accompany a light lunch, even based on fish. But if you are among the enthusiasts of art, culture, and nature, you can taste it meditatively, in small sips, perhaps immersing yourself in reading some work by Samuel Beckett, who at twenty undertook a bicycle journey from his Dublin to French land, following the footsteps of the writers he loved so much – particularly in the Loire Valley – and was so fascinated that he chose France as his adopted land and moved there a few years later.
Arswine.it offers you the excellence of Sauvignon from Süd Tirol Vineyard "Castel Ringberg" by Elena Walch , the Alto Adige DOC from Burggraefler and still the surprising Sauvignon IGT Isaì from the Federici winery, grown in the Mediterranean climate with marine influences from the Pontine plains in Lazio.
is All the recommended pairings for Sauvignon Blanc
is Sauvignon Blanc: 5 recipes based on – or to pair with – the wild white
And if you want to explore Sauvignons around the world, here is the international selection curated by the sommeliers of ArsWine.it:
is Austria : Sieme Eichberg company Adam Lieleg
is New Zealand : Saint Claire company Saint Claire estate
is France : La Grande Chatelaine company Josep Maillot
is South Africa : Villiera Bush company Villiera wines
is Spain : Diez Siglos Sauvignon company Diez Siglos
Enjoy your tasting!
Recommended readings:
· Gibberellic acid reduces clusters rot of ‘Sauvignon blanc’ grapes, by Santos da Silva, M. Batalha Moreno Kirinus, and others; C. Farias Barreto, C. S. Pérez Lamela, M. Barbosa Malgarim, P. Mello-Farias
· The Breath of Wine, by Luigi Moio;
· Sauvignon blanc Cultivar Aroma – A Review, by J. Marais
· The influence of yeast on the aroma of Sauvignon Blanc wine, by H. Swiegers, R. L. Kievit, T. Siebert, and others
