California Sauvignon Blanc remains as popular as ever, fueled by outstanding wines at reasonable prices. The category is a consistent source for fresh and fragrant white wines that pair well with a variety of foods and settings, yielding dozens of bottlings that emphasize the range of styles to choose from. There’s consistency from vintage to vintage and relatively affordable prices compared with similar quality wines made from other white grapes in the Golden State.
Looking at the 60-plus wines that rated 90 points or higher in my blind tastings since my previous report (“Sauvignon Blanc, California Style,” April 30, 2022), you can see impressive diversity among the top-scorers. In fact, the range of expressions is even more pronounced than in previous years.
The rich Greive Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley Double Eagle 2020 (94 points, $50) shows lanolin and honeysuckle notes, while Shared Notes delivers two distinctive offerings: the Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley Les Pierres Qui Décident 2021 (94, $75) features saline and dried ginger, and the Sauvignon Blanc-Sémillon Russian River Valley Les Leçons des Maîtres 2021 (93, $75) offers a note of honey-drizzled melon. The aromatic Quintessa Sauvignon Blanc NapaSonoma Counties Illumination 2021 (93, $55) is among this report’s most memorable wines, a credit to winemaker Rebekah Wineburg.
There are many more wines worth highlighting from my recent tastings, yet none more notable than the Companion Wine Co. Sunny B Oliver’s Vineyard Edna Valley 2021 (90, $11 for a 375ml can), the best canned expression I’ve seen of the grape—and the first canned wine to make Wine Spectator’s annual Top 100 list.
Esta historia es de la edición May 31, 2023 de Wine Spectator.
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Esta historia es de la edición May 31, 2023 de Wine Spectator.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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New Zealand's Success Story - From small beginnings, the country's wines have ascended to global prominence
Since then, New Zealand has become one of the world’s most successful wine nations. Currently there are 102,000 acres planted, and 40 million cases were sold in 2023, according to the New Zealand Winegrowers. The tiny country produces less than 2% of the global wine supply, but it’s the world’s sixth-largest exporter of wine by value. Another thing that’s evolved? The image of corks no longer applies, as most vintners there eschew cork (only about 15% of the wines we review still use the closure).
Wine Is Healthiest Choice for Drinkers - Decades of research has linked light to moderate drinking, especially of wine, to a range of health benefits.
There’s also strong evidence that alcohol consumption raises the risk of certain cancers and that heavy drinking carries serious health risks. But the reasons why moderate drinking seems to be neutral or beneficial for some people and harmful for others remains a mystery.A new study sought to solve that puzzle. Looking at health and lifestyle information for a large population, the researchers found that while any alcohol posed risks for adults with existing health problems from poorer areas, healthy adults from wealthier areas suffered no additional risks from moderate drinking, and those who drink wine with food even enjoyed better health.
In Pursuit of the Perfect Crust
“Dough is always the hardest challenge for any home chef,” explains chef and restaurateur Tony Gemignani. “But it’s the foundation of any great pizza.”
SEAVEY VINEYARD
In Napa’s Conn Valley, a family-run winery marches to its own drum
CALIFORNIA RHONES Show Their Range
RECENT VINTAGES DELIVER EXCELLENT REDS AND WHITES IN AN ARRAY OF STYLES
Tuscany Comes of Age
Anchored by the 2021 vintage, Tuscan reds set a new standard of quality
The Absolute Best Places to Eat and Drink in America
PROFILES OF THE 63 WINE SPECTATOR GRAND AWARD WINNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY, AS THE PROGRAM MARKS ITS 44TH YEAR
Events- A Grand Tour for Wine Spectator- a perfect day with an evening of outstanding wines.
A young couple in shorts and festival shirts sped into the ballroom of the New Orleans Marriott on a mission.
Big Wine Players Target Pinot Noir - Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they're looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they’re looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
Restaurant Awards- Lazy Bear- Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it's so much more.
Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it’s so much more. This Mission District restaurant effortlessly strips away the formality of a multicourse dinner and replaces it with conviviality, nostalgia and curiosity. With reverence for time and place, Lazy Bear is an ode to California where guests dine in concert with the season and can explore diverse wines, including an impressive collection of older California vintages.
