All about the Sauvignon Blanc

When one speaks of Sauvignon Blanc, this is a so-called pleonasm, i.e. a repetition of words that have the same meaning but are different. Put more simply; "repeated unnecessarily". Because the Sauvignon is always Blanc, i.e. white.
Maybe this way of expression serves to better distinguish between Sauvignon (blanc) and the red Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Sauvignon is one of the best-known grape varieties in the world, because the Sauvignon vines are very productive. They owe their world fame above all to the Loire wines such as Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé, but also to the white Bordeaux wines such as Entre-deux-Mers or Graves.
On the international level, Sauvignon from New Zealand plays a particularly important role, for example that from Cloudy Bay.

The characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc

Young Sauvignons are characterized by a distinctive character in which aromas of broom, boxwood, currant bud, grapefruit, passion fruit and, in some cases, smoke or flint can be found. Unfortunately, in this context one cannot help but mention the penetrating smell of "cat pee" that many Sauvignons have. This smell is very easy to spot, especially for anyone who has or has had a cat. The issue is a real bone of contention between the "old world" and the "new world": while in France this smell is associated with poor work and grapes harvested before optimal ripeness, in New Zealand or California the same smell is not considered error viewed. Sometimes quite the opposite: the New Zealand winery Coopers Creek has named its Sauvignon Blanc "Cat's Pee on Gooseberry". What good humour!

Growing areas of Sauvignon Blanc

In France, the most beautiful Sauvignons are found along the Loire, especially in Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Quincy or Menetou-Salon, Reuilly, Cheverny, Valençay... The other most important region for Sauvignon Blanc is Bordeaux, where it is mostly blended with Sémillon or Muscadelle will. Important appellations in this region are Entre-Deux-Mers, Graves, Sauternes, Bergerac... Outside of France, interesting Sauvignon Blanc can be found in New Zealand, California, Chile, but also in Italy in the Collio region, in Syria... and now also in Germany .

Food pairing with Sauvignon Blanc

Anything that comes from the sea goes well with a mineral Sauvignon like Jean-Max Roger's from Sancerre or Adèle Rouzé's Quincy. With the Bordeaux Blanc Château Argadens or the Sauvignon de Touraine by Joël Delaunay, we recommend a nice goat cheese from the same region: Valençay, Selles-sur-Cher, Pouligny-Saint-Pierre, Sainte-Maure or Crottin de Chavignol.

The Sauvignons Blancs at Maître Philippe & Filles

If reading has whetted your thirst, check out our selection of Sauvignons Blancs!