WINE OF THE WEEK
UNPARALLELED SAUVIGNON BLANC
NEW ZEALAND 2014
By: Ed "The Wine Guy"
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc put New Zealand on the wine map of the world about fifteen years ago. It introduced a style of taste (intensely fruit-forward) which was unlike the Sauvignon Blancs of France (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume' from the Loire Valley, and from Bordeaux), where Sauvignon Blanc had been produced for many years, and it was unlike that of Chile and California which exhibits a softer, more food-friendly style. Many say that Cloudy Bay is the benchmark for Sauvignon Blanc, just as Santa Margherita is the benchmark for Pinot Grigio. There is no denying their track records, but, ultimately, it's a matter of taste. Chacon a son gout (each to his own taste). Sales at Harney's would bear it out that New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Red Blends have been the most popular wine categories for the recent past. Oyster Bay, our most popular New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Kim Crawford, and Whitehaven, my personal favorite, continue in the tradition of Cloudy Bay. So, too, does Unparalleled, our Wine of the Week, which is new to Harney's. It is fruit-forward, with lime and grapefruit notes, and with hints of grass and minerals.