WOW, y’all–I hadn’t realized how long it’s been since I’ve posted on my blog! Thank for hanging in there with me though because, trust me. I’m doing A. TON. of things behind the scenes right now both on the lawyer front {you do still remember that I’m a trademarks, branding, and business attorney for entrepreneurs, right? lol} and with the champagne + wine side of things.
On that note, what better reason to dip my toes back into the wine writing water than a post about a “wine holiday” like today’s National Sauvignon Blanc Day! My love for champagne is a huge given, but I also love wine in general, so anytime I can commemorate a day that celebrates wine, I’m in!
I’m not going to make this a super lengthy post {you know I can geek out and get long winded}, so I”m going to do a quick bit of cursory varietal info for your edification, and then get right into what it is you really want to know–what I’m drinking to celebrate this day!
What the Blanc?
To learn just a bit about Sauvignon Blanc I thought it would be cool to check out what the well-known and well-loved Wine Folly says on the subject: “Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine that owes much of its popularity to winemakers in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley in France. The Sauvignon Blanc taste is very different from other white wines, like Chardonnay, because of its green and herbaceous flavors. It is one of the most widely planted wine grapes in the world and because of this it has a wide range of styles and flavors.”
Personally I really get into the fact that one Sauvignon Blanc can tastes wildly different from another since the grape are grown in so many different regions such as Australia, France, Italy, New Zealand, the US, Spain, and Chile, just to name a few. Typically Sauvignon Blanc tends to run dry, which is what made my pick a pretty unique find. Read on to find out what I mean.
The Bubbleista Recommends
If you’ve been rolling with me for a little bit then you are well acquainted with my disdain for sticking with the status quo. I’m constantly trolling the wine aisles at my favorite shops with the goal of finding new or unique gems to try. It should come as absolutely NO surprise then that I selected something unique to pop open to celebrate #NationalSauvignonBlancDay: behold, the 2009 Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc Noble Late Harvest!
Just FYI, Mulderbosch is a South African winery located in Stellenbosch “recognized for crafting innovative and extraordinary wines,” and they have a full varietal lineup that includes Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Méthode Cap Classique sparkling, Cabernet Sauvignon rosé (which comes in still AND sparkling), and Cabernet Franc. I first became acquainted with the winery about 4 years ago when I bought their rosé on a whim and was instantly enchanted by it.
So now that you know what the name of my Sauvignon Blanc pick is, what may have stuck out for you were the last two words: “Late Harvest.” Let’s talk briefly about what that means and how that affects the style of this wine.
A wine that is designated as “late harvest” is defined as “wine made from grapes left on the vine longer than usual. Late harvest is usually an indication of a sweet dessert wine.” Because of the unique way the grapes sweetness is allowed to intensify on the vine make the resulting wines not only rich and sweeter, but alos often higher in alcohol content.
Now you better understand what make my wine pick pretty special–the fact that it is late harvest AND that it is a varietal that is almost always dry. So what does it taste like? Let’s get to it!
NOSE: Stewed peaches, raisins, dried plums {which sounds so much better than “prunes,” right? Lol), warm apple pie, and toasted nuttiness
PALATE: lushly of raisins, dried apples, figs, candied orange, honey, prunes (had to say it this time), bittersweet cherry pits on the sides of the tongue and, believe it or not, some pretty decent acidity on the finish that makes your mouth water.
After I did my own tasting notes, I checked out what the winemaker had to say. I think it can be a cool way to learn about wine by seeing how the winemaker intended for you to experience the wine; where my palate aligns with their’s; and where it differs. #AlwaysBeLearning
Winemaker Notes:
“Striking amber appearance with verdant hues. Beautifully developed botrytis notes of dried pear, mango and fresh hay dominate the nose. Succulent flavors of preserved cling peaches and quince paste on the palate are supported by subtle oaky tones reminiscent of hot buttered toast. A fine acidity heightens fruit purity and underpins a long and flavorful finish.” There are one or two technical wine terms in his notes, so you can get your wine education on too by looking up those you’re unfamiliar with.
Would I get this again? Believe it or not, YES. This would work beautifully with a grazing plate with feta cheese, olives, Soppressata (Italian dry salami) or salty prosciitto, honey roasted almonds, Brie, and sweet tart jam or quince paste…WOO! My mouth is watering just thinking about how this would all taste together.
So are you a Sauvignon Blanc lover? Would you try this Mulderbosch Late Harvest? Chat with me and let me know your thoughts by clicking here and commenting on my National Sauvignon Blanc post on IG!