The Seeker Sauvignon Blanc
written by: Joseph F Coniglio
“Spilling your glass of wine is the adult equivalent of letting go of your balloon.”
Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine produced from the grape which bears the same name. It is synonymous with exceptional wines from New Zealand, Australia, as well as North and South America. In France where it is most familiar, many of the classic wines produced in the Loire Valley are blends with this grape being dominant. With most, the flavor is citrusy, with the taste going toward grapefruit, lemon, and lime. So, it is a very light-tasting, refreshing style of wine that is very versatile in its use, while kind of limited in its pairing. The light, citrus taste makes it so. But not in this case.
THE SEEKER is a Sauvignon Blanc from Mendoza, Argentina. While it does share many of the characteristics of its New Zealand cousins, it is actually quite different. Set in the eastern part of the Andes Mountains, this region is really known for its Malbec. The winery itself is international and imports knowledge and techniques from around the world. It is a global brand that imports grapes from two distinct regions of New Zealand. From the north of Marlborough comes richness and citrus and lime flavors. While from the south the wine is gifted with round and full flavors of nectarine and grapefruit. These flavors mesh beautifully on the palate but you will also notice more of an earthy taste than in other Sauvignon Blancs. While it is not heavy or dominant, the earthiness adds richness and a bit more boldness to the wine. More on this later.
In the bottle, which is pretty stark itself, the wine is clear to a pale yellow. Under the proper light, it even tends a bit toward green. In the glass, again one notices the clarity which is typical of this style of wine. On the nose, it is quite pleasant and fresh, almost reminiscent of mom’s laundry smell after hanging on the clothesline all day. No accident, the aroma comes from a high concentration of pyrazines, herbal aromatic compounds. This natural injection gives way to an unexpected taste, which does move to the grapefruit and citrus, but as it sits on the palate the earthiness does take over. This transformation is a very nice experience and very unexpected. The different climate and soils in Mendoza give this wine a character all its own. It is different, as I said, from its overseas cousins but you can tell that it is from the same family. I guess you could compare it to that relative who resembles no one else in the family you know of.
Here in the Carolinas, it is still very much summertime. Sun shines down from a beautiful, cloudless Carolina blue sky. But the strength of that sun and the hot weather are a perfect pairing for this wine. On the patio or by the pool, freeze some white grapes (instead of ice cubes) and enjoy. Also try it with a fruit or mixed green salad, or some raw vegetables. At dinner, as with most whites, this goes very well with light fish or chicken.
This wine was a find because it lends a different character to other Cabernet Sauvignons. You and your guests will notice and enjoy this difference
Alcohol – 12.8%
Price – about $15
Closure – twist top
My own personal rating – In all I would rate this wine a very respectable 8 grapes out of an unattainable 10. It is light, refreshing, and a very nice addition to your enjoyment of good wines.
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