Tasting Room
Sauvignon Blanc / Fumé BlancWINE OF THE WEEK
Chateau St. Jean
2006 Sonoma County - Fume Blanc ($13)
A crisp, fresh fumé blanc with a fleshy texture. Full-bodied and complex. Floral aromas and flavors of tangerine and lemon. Nice, lingering finish. Elegant.
2006 Russian River Valley - Sauvignon Blanc ($15)
An appealing sauvignon blanc with clean citrus fruit flavors. Notes of green apple, quince, honeysuckle and spice.
2004 Chalk Hill, Sonoma - Sauvignon Blanc ($25)
A very appealing sauvignon blanc, although not varietally correct. Notes of lemon, honeysuckle and lime pith.
2005 Columbia Valley - Sauvignon Blanc ($10)
A good, fruit-forward sauvignon blanc. Notes of grapefruit, orange, lime pith, mineral and a hint of pineapple.
2006 Sonoma County - Fume Blanc ($17)
A decent fumé blanc, although it's varietally incorrect. Has a riesling quality. Notes of gooseberry and honey.
2006 Lake - Sauvignon Blanc ($16)
A grassy sauvignon blanc, with notes of guava and gooseberry. Intense flavors and refreshing acidity.
2006 Napa Valley - Sauvignon Blanc ($26)
A bright, floral sauvignon blanc, with intense flavors. Notes of melon, honeysuckle and jalapeño.
2006 Leveroni Vnyd., Lake - Sauvignon Blanc ($14)
A good, earthy sauvignon blanc, with a grapefruit and lime quality. Has nice minerality. Rich and showy.
2006 Charlotte's Home, Sonoma County - Sauvignon Blanc ($14)
A vibrant, grassy sauvignon blanc. Aromas and flavors of pear, mango, pineapple and grapefruit. Medium complexity.
2006 Mendocino - Sauvignon Blanc ($17)
A bright, crisp, clean and fresh sauvignon blanc. Yeasty, with notes of grapefruit, mineral and pineapple. Rich and showy.
2006 Lodi - Sauvignon Blanc ($14)
A tart sauvignon blanc, with limited appeal. It has some muddled flavors and some sour aromas.
TASTING PANEL: Larry Van Aalst, sommelier of Equus; Tom Capo, retail manager of Wine Spectrum; and Press Democrat wine columnist Peg Melnik.
CRITERIA: The panel samples eight to 12 wines a week in a blind tasting. Wine of the Week is based on quality, value and availability and is not necessarily the top wine of the tasting. Price is suggested retail; actual price is often lower.You can reach Staff Writer Peg Melnik at 521-5310 or e-mail pmelnik@pressdemocrat.com