Enjoy a crisp Sauvignon Blanc from Groth Vineyards to start your summer festivities!

“It’s a smile, it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine… it’s summertime!” – Kenny Chesney

With Memorial Day hailing the unofficial start of summer in the U.S., I would like to share a review of a crisp Sauvignon Blanc blend that utilizes Sémillon grape stock from France. As you join friends and family members for impromptu cookouts and nights by the pool, considering adding the 2014 Groth’s Sauvignon Blanc (www.grothwines.com) to your list of must have wines for summer sipping.

Napa Valley is well known for it’s microclimates. The winemakers at Groth Vineyards and Winery are masterful at using grapes from multiple locations with temperature variations in creating this Sauvignon Blanc.

Warm climates in the Oakville California vineyard produced Sauvignon Blanc grapes that matured with hints of citrus flavor. Bordeaux stock of Sémillon grapes were blended from cooler areas in the same vineyard providing a little sweetness to a dry white wine. Groth’s Sauvignon Blanc does not disappoint. It is crisp with an early melon taste and smell that finishes up with mild hints of herbs. The combined tastes lightly linger after you take a sip.

                                         Groth's Sauvignon Blanc

The winemaking trio of Director Michael Weis, Cameron Parry and Eric Fidel utilize whole cluster pressing to produce the soft fruity taste. The wine is then allowed to ferment in natural oak barrels for 5 months, using a process known as sur lie.

PositiveVines‘ HelpfulTip: “Sur lie” aging is a technique that allows the wines to age with residual yeasts in order to extract additional flavors that may be missed by filtering the wine to remove yeasts at the start of the fermentation process.

Straw like in color – Groth’s Sauvignon Blanc can be paired with grilled seafood, fresh fruits and cheeses and a variety of chicken and salad dishes. It is an outstanding value at an average of $20 per bottle. The next time that you are shopping for great values in wines pick up a few bottles of this Sauvignon Blanc to have on hand for after work meals that you share on the patio with friends and family.

Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!

Drink Responsibly!

Learning to Love French Wines - the estate of Château-Landat

“I could probably die happy with a cheeseboard and a glass of French red wine - that's my idea of a perfect dinner.” – Deidre O’Kane

Red wine blends have grown in popularity throughout the U.S. The same enthusiasm is seen in French wines. One that is smooth to drink and easily accessible in local wine stores around the country  is from the estate of Château-Landat in the Haut-Médoc region of Bordeaux (http://domaines-fabre.fr/en/nos-Châteaux/Château-landat).

The Haut-Médoc region borders the southernmost part of the large Médoc region. The terroir in this region has excellent clay soil conditions for growing a variety of red varietals with access to the Gironde river.

Château-Landat is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.  As a matter of information these are the only grape varietals that the estate of Château-Landat grows. That focus on varietals goes back to the AOC regulations discussed in the last blog which promote focus on growing the best that a vineyard can support versus dilution with too many grape types.

When sampled after 5 years of bottling, Château-Landat comes across as a medium bodied red wine. It is best aerated for at least an hour in a slightly cool room without direct sunlight before drinking. The 2011 vintage that we sampled was well balanced with minimal tannins and lots of black fruits such as currant and blackberries.

PositiveVines‘ HelpfulTip: Aeration is commonly referred to as letting a wine breath. The idea is that a wine will soften and the flavors become more pronounced once the wine hits the air. The best way to aerate a wine is to pour it in a decanter or carafe.

This Château-Landat is a 91 point wine that may be best held in a cellar for aging up to 10 years in order to have a fuller bodied experience. However, don’t feel that you have to wait 10 years to enjoy this wonderfully priced wine. At $17 a bottle, you can find 2-5 year aged bottles in your local wine store to enjoy now. My recommendation is that this medium bodied wine would go well with creamy sauced chicken dishes, Indian food and heavier fishes such as salmon.

Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!

Drink Responsibly!