2008 Chalone Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

[Drew]

I like Sauvignon Blanc on occassion, particularly those that display citrus with a lot of minerality but the 2008 Chalone Vineyard Monterey County was a big disappointment for me. Muddled tropical fruit flavors, pineapple, peach and passion fruit but little acidity, flabby in the mouth. The wine didn't draw you to take another sip, as I find good SB's do, and after 1/2 a glass with an off putting bitter note having appeared, I pushed it away. My first time with a Chalone SB and this is a respected name so is this their style or an off bottle?

Drew

[wondersofwine]

Chalone has some reputation for their Chardonnays. I've never tried their S.B. Could be that it sees some oak as some California producers are doing or just that the vineyard climate is too hot for the variety and overripens the grapes. My reliables for California S.B. have been St. Supery, Honig and Joel Gott although I haven't had any of them for a couple years (more French and New Zealand SBs.)