Producer: Shenandoah Vineyards of California
Wine: Sauvignon Blanc, Amador County 2006
Vintage: 2006
Country: USA
Appellation: Amador County
Wine Type: White
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Grade: B
Designation: Cheap and Good
Price:$8

I usually pick up a bottle of Shenandoah’s Zinfandel wine when I want a non-bully Zin. The winery along with their sibling winery, Sobon Estate are located in the Sierra Nevada foothills in California’s Gold Country and they produce wine with organically-grown grapes. On this particular day I wanted to get out of my Shenandoah Zinfandel rut and decided to pick up their $8 Sauvignon Blanc. For that price, I figured, I wasn’t risking much. Now, if I were buying a bottle of Chardonnay at that price I would automatically know I would be regretful and remorseful as I sipped a fruity wine that is probably ungainly with oak and butter-vanillin. I confess I’ve had better Sauvignon Blancs, but I’ve generally paid more for those. The 2006 Sauvignon Blanc’s nose is laden with flowers and spice. It’s crisp and lively with tropical fruit, lime, some green bean bits, and a dimension of toasted coconut and minerals. It offers a clean taste with spring to it. This will make a good default wine to turn to for a refreshing aperitif or companion to seafood and fowl. It’s not exactly like hitting the Mother Lode but finding a sprinkling of dust in the pan that will make you smile.

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