2006 Firestone Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Ynez Valley

[wondersofwine]

Santa Barbara County, CA
Just saw on winery website that this wine received a Gold Medal and Best of Region and Best of Class at the 2007 California State Fair Wine Competition. I can see why it received acclaim. It is crisp but not biting with grapefruit, lemon and pear on the nose. (The winery gets more exotic in their description of the palate with mineral flavors of kiwi, passionfruit and lemongrass but does say pear, honeysuckle, hay and citrus on the nose. I did detect pear on the nose which does not usually hit me with a Sauvignon Blanc.) 13.5 % alcohol. The wine was cold fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. I paid $6.00 for a glass at Chris's Open Hearth Steak House and it retails for $25.00 from the winery which is a little high for domestic S.B. I had the wine on its own but like the winery recommendation of pairing with sauteed sandabs (one 'd' or two?), shellfish, chicken and lemon risotto. I love the sandabs from Monterey Bay but don't think I can get them around here. The winery also suggests with Caesar salad or milder Mexican fare with cilantro and lime (I've found that cilantro can be a real killer to white wines.) I would also recommend with green vegetables and white-fleshed fish such as halibut, flounder or sea bass.

[Bucko]

$25 is a little high? I can almost get two NZ SBs for the same price and better to boot. CA needs to lose some of its pricing plans...they have pretty much lost me as a customer. Of course I can say the same thing about OR Pinot.

That wimpering over, thanks for the note. It seems domestic SB CAN be good if they take the time and manage the crops.