Posts tagged with 'Sancerre'

A Different Sauvignon Blanc

  • Posted on March 5, 2009 at 10:33 am

Comparing wines is one of the fun things about drinking wine.  We just drank a Sancerre, which is the Sauvignon Blanc grape, and last night we enjoyed a completely different Sauvignon Blanc, one from Chile.  This 2007 Reserva from Veramonte Winery from the Casablanca Valley in Chile was VERY light and tart.  The nose was grassy, much like what we’re used to with this grape. 

Shelley tasted apples and said it was acidic and dry.  It was very different from the Sancerre.  We enjoyed it very much.

My next post will be a comparison between two Gewurztraminers (I waited as long as I could so I didn’t have to write that name!) from Firestone Vineyard, a 2005 and a 2007.  Stay tuned.

Open That 2007 Sancerre Night

  • Posted on March 1, 2009 at 11:41 pm

When we woke up yesterday morning it was five degrees.  Now as I write this it’s a balmy fifty something degrees and it’s 11:07 PM in Orange, California.  But last night we found ourselves in Ogden, Utah.  Thank goodness we had brought wine, on ice no less, so we didn’t have to concern ourselves with having to figure out how to buy wine in Utah.  Such a beautiful place–mountains in our backyard, but serious, what would we have done if we weren’t prepared??

We had driven over ten hours.  We were tired.  And it was Open That Bottle Night 10.  Unbeknownst to Shelley I brought a special bottle of wine to welcome us into our hotel room.  I knew we wouldn’t be able to handle an entire bottle of red so I went with a white.  I also know that Sauvignon Blanc is probably our favorite white wine right now.  So refreshing.

I chose a 2007 Sancerre from France.  Not much of a surprise, I know, since I basically told you in the title of this blog.  This Pascal Jolivet Sancerre scored 90 points from the Wine Spectator and it didn’t disappoint.  Although I will admit almost anything would have hit the spot, this went up and over. 

What I found interesting was that the nose on this wine reminded me of Chardonnay and Shelley of a Chablis.  It was very smooth.  However, about two thirds through the bottle it started to hint at what we’re used to in a Sauvignon Blanc, the grassy, floral nose.  I tasted a tart, sour taste.  I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was.  At first I thought it was apricot but then realized it was not. 

Because we were on the road we weren’t able to have our annual Open That Bottle Night party but this was the next best thing.  It’s not often we spend thirty bucks on a bottle of wine but this certainly was worth it and we were happy to be able to share another OTBN night together.  To be sure, this cork will go in our cork catcher when we get home.  I don’t know who gets to toss it in but it will make it’s way in, without a doubt.

I hope you were able to find a special bottle of wine to open for this once a year occasion.  My next post may not be until next week as we are visiting California relatives before bringing Shelley’s father back home with us.  Until then, bottoms up!

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