The Cheers/Beverage Dynamics National Wine Panel recommends a lineup of top quality/value sauvignon blancs - Wine Selections

Cheers, July-August, 2003

Since the beginning of this year, Cheers has inaugurated a joint Cheers/Beverage Dynamics National Wine Panel, a distinguished group of restaurant and hotel beverage professionals, including sommeliers, beverage directors and wine managers along with wine buyers and sellers at America's best-known retail wine stores.

Grouped each month by varietal, the selections include notes compiled from the many selections made by our panelists. (A list of those participating can be found at the end of the section listing.) These selections include brief tasting notes, a star and numerical rating and the wine's suggested retail price (which varies from market to market.)

For this wine tasting, we asked the panel to select a lineup of recently tasted sauvignon blancs or sauvignon blanc-based wines.

If you're a beverage professional who would like to learn more about participating in our panel, call Jack Robertiello at 718-857-3660, or email him at jrobertiello@adamsbevgroup.com.

SAUVIGNON BLANC FIVE STARS

***** 96 Cakebread 2002 Sauvignon Blanc (California). An appealing grapefruit and lemon taste with a hint of spice. Very fresh and elegant with a crisp finish. $35

***** 96 Joseph Phelps 2001 Sauvignon Blanc (California). A full-bodied, balanced wine with fruity and slightly grassy aromas; flavors of melon, fig and tropical fruit with a hint of oak; a nice, clean finish. $20

***** 95 Cloudy Bay 2002 Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand). Tremendous fusion of tropical fruit, herbs and citrus; finishes with a hint of jalapeno; a showstopper. $26

***** 95 Selene 2000 Hyde Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (California). Made from sauvignon musque, this is a ripe, slightly heavier style of sauvignon blanc with flavors of melon and pear, not the typical grass-vegetal qualities; matches well with fish and lighter meats. $25

***** 94 Salmon 2002 Sancerre Vielles Vignes (France). Wonderfully bright aromas and flavors of lemon, lime, and fresh melon abound in this handcrafted beauty from this family-owned winery's oldest vines; hints of mineral, wet stone and a just a touch of grassiness race across the palate and linger for a long time. $20

***** 94 Blockhedia 2001 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc (California). A citrus and melon nose, with flavors of citrus, herbs, grapefruit and honey that continue to evolve in the glass; good acidity; pairs well with seafood, shellfish and lighter dishes. $19

***** 93 Geyser Peak 2002 Sauvignon Blanc (California). Simply a superb effort; rich grassy aromas and flavors with accents of ripe melons and olives; a great choice with a linguine in an herb-accented white clam sauce. (Best served: 2003-2005). $16

***** 93 Edgewood 2001 Sauvignon Blanc (California). Intense bouquet of floral and citrus aromas with a wisp of smoke; showing the trademark flint of a top flight sauvignon blanc, this beauty reveals layers of bright lemon, vanilla and cream; the intensity of the fruit is balanced deftly by a delightfully crisp finish; great pairing with smoked salmon or grilled swordfish. $20

***** 93 Groom 2002 Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc (Australia). A great sauvignon blanc nose followed by wonderful, lush sauvignon blanc flavors; a top wine. $17

***** 93 Konrad & Co. 2002 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand). Fresh and vibrant with ripe gooseberry, kiwi, grapefruit and melon flavors. $17

***** 93 Hanna 2001 Sauvignon Blanc (California). A wonderfully aromatic bouquet, not overly herbaceous with great melon/grapefruit fruit components, pinpoints acidity and a finish that is ever so clean and refreshing. $16

***** 93 Groth 2002 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc (California). On the nose, aromas of melons and figs with notes of sweet oak and a hint of hay; crisp acidity throughout and into a longish finish with grapefruit and melon flavors and a hint vanilla toward the close; enough body to handle Thai or Indian dishes or similar spicy preparations. $15

***** 92 Sterling 2001 North Coast Sauvignon Blanc (California). Bright pale-straw in color; fresh and floral with aromas of nectarines, melons and grapefruit with hints of lemongrass, mint, lemon drops and minerals; on the palate, the wine is pleasingly full with ripe fruit and subtle flinty acidity. $15

***** 92 2001 Henry Bourgeois La Porte de L'Abbaye Pouilly Fume (France). Crisp and smoky up front; ripe apple and a touch of citrus; creamy and smooth on the finish; well balanced and very well made. $14

FOUR STARS

**** 91 Rodney Strong 2002 Charlotte's Home Sauvignon Bianc (California). Excellent aromas and flavors of ripe citrus and aromatic grassiness; on the palate, this wine is very satisfying and balanced, and would do well paired with a Provencal-style baked chicken. (Best served 2003-2005). $12

**** 91 Joel Gott 2002 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc (California). Pleasant unoaked fruit bomb! Loaded with apple, pear and gooseberry; good touch of acidity on the finish. $16

**** 91 Chateau Bonnet Blanc, Entre Deux Mers 2002 (France). Inviting fragrances of lime, slate and mineral are followed by similar flavors that intensify and get increasingly complex on the palate; perfect for shellfish or broiled flounder with lemon buerre blanc; a great find. $14