The Perfect Wine Grape for Summer

Wine in the bottle is a living breathing evolving food.  When released and poured into a glass it evolves even further, some wines needing it, others not so much; grape variety, growing region and winemaker being the ultimate deciding factor.  There are grapes that produce near perfect wines upon pouring…no evolution needed; sauvignon blanc is one of them.  Sauvignon Blanc is the native grape of the Bordeaux region of France.  It is blended, in this region, with primarily the Semillon grape to produce the soft subdued, lime dominant, herbaceous white Bordeaux wines;  perfection in old world style and pairs well with simple meals.  On the other side of subdued is sauvignon blanc from New Zealand.  This new world region married sauvignon blanc and became quite possibly the most perfect single variety union; terroir and single grape.  The sauvignon blanc from this region expresses this grape in a more bold and fruit-forward way… being the more exuberant twin so to speak.  Both regions express the grape differently but neither masks the trueness of the grape.  Being interchangeable for the warm weather both versions are zippy to the core which makes them perfect for summer foods; picnic foods, pasta salads, chicken salads, barbequed anything…..you get the point…..not many wines can boast that….well maybe Riesling:)….that’s a new blog post.  So pour and sip away no evolving needed. 

enjoy

Packaging is Everything

Within this uniquely shaped bottle with the slightly curved neck is a sustainably grown Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend, Vin de Pays D’Oc, from Southern France.  As you can see it has not been opened, not because the want is not there and not because the food pairing is not there, but because time is needed to ponder the shear beauty and creative thought that went into the design and craftsmanship of the bottle that would would house its contents.  Being from a moderately climed region, there is little doubt that its contents would smell and taste of subtle deep berries and black cherries and earth with a hint of black currant…..one would also imagine the complete balance of fruit, tannin and alcohol with a medium to long length based on the 12.5% indicated on the bottle.  ok enough on that….when the pondering is over, it will be opened and it will be paired with red wine braised short ribs:)

enjoy

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