Why I Hate Sauvignon Blanc (and one I don't)
From my blog at Huff Po:
Why I Hate Sauvignon Blanc (and one I don’t)
Santa Rita Floresta Leyda Sauvignon Blanc, Chile, $22
Twenty two bucks is a lot to spend for a Chilean white wine, especially if it’s
Sauvignon Blanc—a wine best known for tasting like cat pee. In fact, the French, who produce some of the worlds’ most famous Sauv Blanc, in their ever-charming way, highly praise the aroma of “pipi du chat.”
Perhaps the worst offender is New Zealand, which, despite producing the pissiest tasting Sauvignon Blanc on the planet, has somehow convinced millions of wine drinkers that what they are really tasting is gooseberries. What in hell is a gooseberry? It’s a small sour tasting fruit that doesn’t actually taste very good. However, at least it sounds better than cat urine.
As a wine critic, I get wine sent to me to taste and write about. A few years ago, an importer sent me a bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with the memorable name of “Cat’s Phee on a Gooseberry Bush.” (The Federal bureaucrats devoted to preserving the sanctity of wine labels in the U.S. wouldn’t allow the word “pee.”) At least give the Kiwis points for honesty. And, truth be told, I couldn’t bring myself to open it, given my experiences with Kiwi Sauv Blanc.
However, if you want a marvelous bottle of Sauvignon Blanc that will not remind you of an incontinent feline, look for Santa Rita Sauv Blanc. It has marvelous aromas and flavors of tropical fruit, melon and a bit of cut grass, but not a hint of litter box. I guess the Chileans don’t like cat pee either.
Why I Hate Sauvignon Blanc (and one I don’t)
Santa Rita Floresta Leyda Sauvignon Blanc, Chile, $22
Twenty two bucks is a lot to spend for a Chilean white wine, especially if it’s
Sauvignon Blanc—a wine best known for tasting like cat pee. In fact, the French, who produce some of the worlds’ most famous Sauv Blanc, in their ever-charming way, highly praise the aroma of “pipi du chat.”
Perhaps the worst offender is New Zealand, which, despite producing the pissiest tasting Sauvignon Blanc on the planet, has somehow convinced millions of wine drinkers that what they are really tasting is gooseberries. What in hell is a gooseberry? It’s a small sour tasting fruit that doesn’t actually taste very good. However, at least it sounds better than cat urine.
As a wine critic, I get wine sent to me to taste and write about. A few years ago, an importer sent me a bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with the memorable name of “Cat’s Phee on a Gooseberry Bush.” (The Federal bureaucrats devoted to preserving the sanctity of wine labels in the U.S. wouldn’t allow the word “pee.”) At least give the Kiwis points for honesty. And, truth be told, I couldn’t bring myself to open it, given my experiences with Kiwi Sauv Blanc.
However, if you want a marvelous bottle of Sauvignon Blanc that will not remind you of an incontinent feline, look for Santa Rita Sauv Blanc. It has marvelous aromas and flavors of tropical fruit, melon and a bit of cut grass, but not a hint of litter box. I guess the Chileans don’t like cat pee either.
Tags: Chile, Rita, Santa, Sauvignon, blanc, cat, pee
Views: 116
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Katie Pizzuto on -
The Fortress SB that I mentioned says on their bottle "grass is for cows"!!
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Permalink Reply by Shellie Slettebak on -
Hi Marlene,
Personally the stinkier the better for me, but to each her own. :)
Might I suggest the Chateau Ste Michelle Horse Heaven Sauvignon Blanc (don't get CSM snobby on me, just try it) - it is 50% stainless / 50% barrel fermented (no malo/yes lees). The flavors are more melon and grapefruit, and it has a nice full mouth feel. Nicely balanced, no sharp edges, great with food, especially goat cheese and the ever difficult artichoke. Think it retails for $18 or so?? And the nice part is, you should be able to find it in your town!
Also, not sure where you are located, but Page Cellars (also from Woodinville WA) has a really nice SB, which tastes a lot like a green apple jolly rancher; night have just a little RS, but it makes a really nice JUICY wine. No trace of cat, anywhere!!
Hopefully you won't give up on SB, cuz if you like goat cheese, there's no better pairing IMHO. Cheers!! :)
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Permalink Reply by Greg Crone on -
Hi there,
I am a winemaker from New Zealand and produce a tasty wee Sauvignon Blanc (pun intended)
I think there is a vast difference between styles in NZ and the "Cats Pee" you refer to is usually associated with over cropped, under ripe fruit. If you smell cats pee, the wine is out of balance! Try a riper style... Croney 3 Ton, Tohu or Whitehaven.
Let me know your thoughts.
Viva la SB
Greg
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Permalink Reply by Marlene on -
Yes, Greg. I have tasted the Whitehaven and it is quite good! I like some of the riper California styles as well, esp. the musque clone. As a former sommelier, wine educator and current wine columnist (www.chefmagazine.com) I taste and have tasted a great deal of wine including SB.
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Permalink Reply by Louise Domenitz on -
Has anyone tried the 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Lu Lu from Australia? (Just read a tweet raving about it at http://tinyurl.com/l9cu3m)
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Permalink Reply by David Gaier on -
Sauvignon Blanc, like wine in general for most people, is an acquired taste, and many NZ versions to be sure are bitingly acidic and grapefruity, among other things. But isn't that an acceptable taste profile for those whose tastes go in that direction?
French versions from Sancerre and Graves can be much softer and rounder, as can the classic French Pouilly-Fume, many of which are usually mixed with Semillion. I find many California versions somewhere in between NZ and France, which also is an attractive taste profile for many wine drinkers.
I do believe that our role as wine educators is to help people discover what they like, while helping them understand why and giving them the ability to articulate that. While I do think that there are many bad individual wines, I don't quite get the concept of "hating" a varietal on its face.
And I spend a lot of time around my cat Tia, and when I clean her litter boss, I must say I am not reminded of SB.
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Permalink Reply by Nadia R. Pavlevska on -
I can't agree with you more David!
I also don't get the concept of "hating" a varietal, or even worse hating a whole well known wine region, as "small" as Australia. When someone makes such statements, I have a hard time trusting their opinion. Personally, I love NZ SB, Tohu, for example, is the best summer wine to me. O well, maybe what I am saying is that I like cat pee after all, or I am fortunate NOT to be a "hyper" taster ;)!!!
Cheers!
Nadia
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Permalink Reply by Greg Crone on
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Give My SB a try... It is very close to Tohu in style (I was hired a few years back as a consultant to Tohu) ... Croney Estates "Three Ton" Sauvignon Blanc. Send me your postal address and I will send over a couple of bottles. Good-o
Croney
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Permalink Reply by Greg Crone on
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email... greg.crone@croneyestates.com
www.croneyestates.com
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Permalink Reply by David Gaier on
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I tried Greg's Croney Estates SB and it was delightful.
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