Huntington is a label that is part of the Hahn family’s portfolio of wines, which includes Hahn Winery, Cycles Gladiator, Hahn SLH Estate, Lucienne, Smith & Hook, Copa Del Rey, and Bin 36.  Along with this assortment of wine brands, the Hahn family also owns the Mugie Ranch in northern Kenya, where the Hahns reside for part of the year.  The Mugie Ranch is home to a school, a farm and a wildlife preserve.  The Hahn family takes the proceeds from the sale of Huntington wines to fund higher education scholarship programs for Kenyan children.

All of Huntington’s wine labels offer artist’s renderings of scenes depicting the Kenyan people.  This particular Huntington label showcases the Samburu ladies in blue, in a painting by the family’s own Gaby Hahn.  A noble approach to wine making, and a very worthy cause indeed, but it still begs the question:  how is the wine?

Huntington sources their sauvignon blanc from Dry Creek Valley, in the heart of Sonoma County.  The nose of this wine is very fresh and balanced, offering crisp green pepper and citrus, particularly lemon, along with some tropical notes.  On the palate the wine showcases a more elegant style of sauvignon blanc, in contrast to more intense styles from New Zealand and Chile.  But there is also a distinctly racy backbone of citrus that stands out – a welcome element here that spritzes things up.

The Huntington sauvignon blanc has a relatively high 14.1% alcohol level, but the wine remains balanced through the finish.  After tasting this wine for a bit, you’ll notice that it is considerably drier than many other sauvignon blanc’s at this price point.  It’s not unpleasant, and I feel it adds some maturity to the character of this wine.

The Huntington should pair well with lighter foods, but it’s certainly enjoyable on its own.   And oh by-the-way, it should serve your conscience well too.

A  Salute!

Wine: Huntington
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol: 14.1%
Rating: 86
Price: $14.00

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Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.

The William Cole estate is situated in the Casablanca Valley, near the city of Casablanca.   There is also a William Cole Vineyards in St. Helena, California, but the wineries are unrelated.  William Cole Vineyards, the Chilean version, is owned and operated by William Cole, while William Cole Vineyards in St. Helena is owned and operated by William Ballentine, along with his family, including a son named Cole.  But that’s neither here, nor there.

William Cole Vineyards (the one in Casablanca, Chile) produces an array of traditional varietals, along with Carménére.  Their sauvignon blanc is sourced from cooler micro-climates that, William Cole claims, enable the wine to retain a natural acidity.  The grapes are destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks for a period of 15 days.

On the nose, the wine offers amazing and complex aromas of green bell pepper, along with an array of fruits, including grapefruit and peach.  On the palate the wine initially teases at following through on that robust nose, but the mid-palate and finish mysteriously fade away.  It comes in like a lion and out like a lamb.  The wine actually turns somewhat creamy, devoid of any real acidity.  It gives the sense of being somewhat out of balance.

This is a rather unique wine, offering a rich nose and fruity character, combined with a creamy and slightly mild finish.  It’s not as intense as some offerings from New Zealand, but should be considered by those looking for a tastier alternative to California versions of sauvignon blanc.  Just make sure you get the Chilean version of William Cole.

A  Salute!

Wine: William Cole Vineyards Columbine Special Reserve   
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol: 13%
Rating: 85
Price: $15

Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.

My experience with Robert Mondavi’s various wineries goes back many vintages.  And, I can say that I’ve never had a negative experience with any of their wines, whether they were from the main estate, from Woodbridge, or from their joint venture with Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Opus One.  Regarding the latter, I’ve been fortunate to enjoy a number of vintages.  And, I’m happy to report that the streak is in-tact.  While I’ll say up front that Woodbridge’s 2010 California sauvignon blanc would not be my first choice at this price point, because it’s not necessarily my style of sauvignon blanc, it does represent a great value.

The wine is not 100% sauvignon blanc.  Woodbridge blends a bit of French colombard and semillon, along with small percentages of a few other obscure white varietals.  However, the wine is 76% sauvignon blanc and this, according to California law, enables the wine to be classified as sauvignon blanc.

On the nose the wine offers sweet lemon-lime and crisp apple.  It’s an aromatic nose, and quite attractive, but it lacks some of the intensity that you might find in a southern hemisphere sauvignon blanc.  However, some zingier traits emerge on the nose as the wine opens and warms.

The first taste activates a broad area of the palate.  This usually indicates a well-balanced and complex wine.  More sour apple and lemon-lime are available on the palate; but, the real story here is the acidity, or I should say the lack-there-of.  It’s not that this wine is devoid of acid.  There is sufficient acid here to adequately balance the wine.  But many value priced sauvignon blancs from alternative geographies are offering more power and intensity at similar price points, and, I believe they are also raising the bar for what consumers will expect out of this varietal.  That said, this more elegant style, eschewing acid and intensity for graceful fruit and softer mouth-feel, is indicative of Mondavi’s various interpretations of the varietal.   In the tasting notes, Woodbridge claims a zingier style, but my guess is that you will disagree with their claim.  2010 saw mild conditions in Lodi, where the fruit is sourced, along with slightly higher rainfall and cooler temperatures.  We will definitely revisit the 2011 to see if the style remains consistent, or Mother Nature has handicapped the 2010.

We’re really mincing details here, mostly because it’s Robert Mondavi’s legacy we’re talking about.  This is a good wine for the money and, as mentioned, a great value.  If your style is more elegance than intensity, this is your wine.

A  Salute!

Wine: Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol: 13%
Rating: 86
Price: $7.99

Find Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi 2010 Sauvignon Blanc with Snooth

Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.

I wasn’t familiar with Silver Ridge Vineyards before trying their Napa sauvignon blanc offering, but with so many “Silver” and “Ridge” named wines earning such great accolades, I was sure that they chose the name smartly.  From a branding standpoint, my subconscious seemed excited that I was about to consume a really good wine.  Although, I’ve become such a fan of New Zealand sauvignon blanc that consciously, I was preparing for a let down.

Right off the bat, the Silver Ridge sauvignon blanc hits you with a rather buttery nose, with laces of honey turning to very mild sweet bell pepper.  With a little more time to open up, aromas of banana and sweet bread begin to appear.  While this is not my style of sauvignon blanc, (I much prefer the richer, peppery and grassy style of the kiwi’s) I certainly appreciate the complexity here.

On the palate, the wine offers up a nice core of tropical fruit and bell pepper.  However, here is where, in my view, the wine’s buttery smoothness undermines it.  While the fruit is there, the wine doesn’t balance it enough with a nice core of acidity.  The finish seems especially muted.  It doesn’t possess the raw zingy flavor that I believe people are becoming accustomed to now, particularly from New World sauvignon blanc.  For sure this is a more elegant style, and one that I believe will appeal to California wine lovers.  So while I gave it a good rating and recommend that you try it, I’ll pass, thank you.

A  Salute!

Wine: Silver Ridge
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol: 12.5%
Rating: 85
Price: $11.99

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Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.

I was just going through my tasting notes and I discovered that I still had notes for this wine from the sauvignon blanc series we did earlier this year, but somehow I neglected to publish this review at that time.  And since it’s such a hot summer day, sauvignon blanc is the perfect wine to highlight today!

Another unique coincidence with this wine is that it’s from Paso Robles, California, which is the theme in my latest column in Mutineer Magazine — which just hit shelves last week.  So there’s another good reason to highlight this wine.

Those who are regular readers here might know that I tend to favor sauvignon blanc from Chile more than that from California.  But this one from Tarrica Wine Cellars, while not an overwhelming tropical fruit experience (like some of my favorites from Chile), is still a pretty good wine.

Balance is the story that this wine tells.  It shows a nice balance of fruit, acid and mineral — three things that make for a beautiful sauvignon blanc.  The aromas from this wine reflect apple, mango, citrus and wet stones.  The palate gives good acidity, with apple and lime drenched mango flavors.  It finishes with a nice touch of acidity and a cooling mineral characteristic.  This is a nice wine.

Wine: Tarrica Wine Cellars Limited Release 
Variety: Sauvignon blanc
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 87
Price:  $10.66

Find Tarrica Wine Cellars Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc with Snooth

Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.

The May/June issue of Mutineer Magazine will be on shelves any day now, including my Wine Steals column.  In this issue I do a roundup of sauvignon blanc from California and Chile, including this one from Rodney Strong.

Wine is an interesting thing when it comes to brands.  There are so many of them, that the options are nearly endless.  And for me, a few brands stand out in my mind that I have an affinity toward.  It’s not that they are necessarily better than other brands, but they’re connected with memories.  I imagine the same is true for other folks too.  Rodney Strong is one of those brands for me.

Back in the mid 1990′s, a Rodney Strong cabernet sauvignon was one of the first wines of quality that I tasted.  Sure, I had tasted a number of crappy wines before that one.  But when I tasted the Rodney Strong, I knew there was more to wine than the plonk I had been drinking.  It was a pivotal moment in my wine appreciation.  Since then, I always get a good feeling when I come across a bottle of Rodney Strong—even if there may be better wines right next to it.  It’s a personal connection.  And I think those personal connections are an important part of enjoying wine.  You shouldn’t like or dislike something just because I, or any other reviewers, say it’s good or bad.  If you have a personal connection to a wine that makes it more enjoyable to you, then embrace that.

Now that I’ve revealed my affinity and bias for Rodney Strong, I should make it clear that I tasted this particular bottle in a blind tasting.  Therefore, I didn’t know what it was when I tasted it and my bias could not influence the review.

This wine shows the softer side of sauvignon blanc, with cooling fruit aromas like cantelope and mango.  But it also has an edge to it with a lemon aroma revealing the acid in this wine.  That acidity is perfect on the palate, which offers crisp apple, pear and lime flavors.  The finish is farily long with apple and citrus flavors lingering on your tongue for some time.  This is a good sauvignon blanc, particularly if you prefer a gentler style of this wine.

Wine: Rodney Strong Charlotte’s Home
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 87
Price:  $11.00

I have often dissed sauvignon blanc from California.  I’ve called it bland, boring, lifeless.  I’m guilty of badmouthing the whole category based on a few underwhelming experiences.  But truthfully, California can produce exceptional sauvignon blanc.  And this bottle from St. Supery proves me wrong for all the bad things I’ve said about Californian sauvignon blanc in the past.

Based in Napa Valley, St. Supery has been around since 1989.  It’s owned by Robert Skalli, a third generation winemaker from Southern France.  In addition to St. Supery, the Skalli family still owned vineyards in Southern France, where Robert has pioneered varietally-labeled wines versus the appellation-based designations that have been the tradition in France for ages.

Despite Skalli’s French heritage, the St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc is a very “new world” style wine with lively tropical fruit flavors.

The nose is exceptionally powerful on this wine and has aromas of tomato leaf, cut grass, grapefruit, celery and flint.  The flavors are predominently citrus, like grapefruit and lime, but there’s also some honeydew melon — which comes out even more on the finish.  The finish also shows a touch of saltiness.  The acidity is sufficient, but a wee bit more would be nice. Still, this is an excellent sauvignon blanc.

Wine: St. Supéry
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 13.7%
Rating: 90
Price: $14.99

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Continuing the theme of our last review, today we’re checking out a couple more sauvignon blancs from the Casablanca Valley region of Chile.  Both of these come from Quintay, which is a brand that was started by a group of Chilean wine producers all focused on cool climate wines.  Wine from Quintay come from the Casablanca and Leyda valleys, but these two both come from Casablanca.

The cool climate of Casablanca Valley helps these wines create lively tropical fruit flavors with crisp acidity.  The mineral characteristics also add to the complexity of these wines.

Quintay Clava Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Tropical fruit aromas abound from this wine, with plenty of grapefruit, lemon and mango.  It also has some of the classic cut grass that sauvignon blanc is often known for.  The palate offers exceptional acidity, with green apple, grapefruit and melon flavors.  It finishes with a salty minerality and crisp green apple acidity. This is a very nice sauvignon blanc.

Wine: Quintay Clava
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 12.5%
Rating: 88
Price: $11.99

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Quintay Q Sauvignon Blanc 2009

This is an exciting and tropical sauvignon blanc on the nose, with loads of grapefruit, pineapple and a good bit of cut grass.  The acidity is exceptional and gives a real zing to the palate, which offers a whole mess of grapefruit flavor along with some apple and melon.  The mouthfeel is also very nice with this wine.  If you like a lively, tropical sauvignon blanc this one is outstanding.

Wine: Quintay Q
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 12.5%
Rating: 91
Price: $15.99

Disclosure: These wines were received as a sample.

This is the third year in a row that we’ve had the opportunity to review the Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc and after reviewing this wine on multiple occasions, a few things have become evident.

First of all, it’s clear that Veramonte consistently makes a really good sauvignon blanc.  They’ve become my “go to” brand for SB.

Second, Casablanca Valley is a world class cool climate region.  It’s generally cooler than California but warmer than Marlborough, New Zealand.  Some may say it’s the best of both worlds.  Warm enough to bring the fruit to full ripeness, yet cool enough to preserve the acidity.  The wine that these conditions create has a flavor profile some describe as between New Zealand and California — which is right where I want it to be.  However, I would more accurately describe it as better than New Zealand and California.

Finally, it’s become evident that vintage does make a difference.  I’ve been beating on this drum for years, but heard others try to say the vintage doesn’t matter in inexpensive wines.  I disagree.  I always want to know the vintage of the juice in the bottle.  In the case of Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc, while it has been consistently good we’ve seen some variation from one vintage to the next.  While some vintages are good, others are outstanding!  And 2010 is an example of outstanding.

I tasted this wine blind in a lineup of Californian and Chilean sauvignon blanc.  The Veramonte stood out from the others as something really special.  In fact, it blew me away!

Wowee, this is a nice sauvignon blanc!  It has great intensity on the nose.  The aromas are complex and beautiful, with a bit of peach, some melon, lime juice, cut grass and flint.  And all of that is perfectly balanced.  The palate is full of ripe fruit, with peach, apple and citrus flavors.  The acidity is near perfect.  It finishes with a salted green apple and peach flavor, with reasonable length.  This is an exceptional sauvignon blanc.  I would say it’s the best vintage yet for Veramonte and perhaps the best sauvignon blanc I’ve ever tasted.

Wine: Veramonte
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 92
Price: $12.00

Find Veramonte Reserva Sauvignon Blanc with Snooth

Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.

Since the last review we did was an updated vintage of a wine we’d previously reviewed, I thought we would continue that trend this week with another.  Not too long ago we reviewed the 2009 Peñalolen Sauvignon Blanc and we’re already checking out the 2010 vintage of this wine.

How can that be?  A 2010 Sauvignon Blanc on the market in early February of 2011.  Well, remember that this one is from Chile and their seasons are opposite of ours.  Therefore the grapes for this wine were actually harvested in spring of 2010 rather than fall.  Or was it fall in spring?  … I mean is April called “fall” in Chile?  Now that I think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever been south of the equator to find that out.  I need to plan a trip to experience this.

Anyway, getting back to reviewing this wine.  The 2009 version of this wine was loaded with citrus and that continues in the 2010 vintage.  But the 2009 also showed an interesting vegetal component on the nose that takes on more of a classic “cut grass” expression in the 2010.

Grapefruit, mineral, lemon and cut grass aromas give this wine the nose of a classic Casablanca Valley sauvignon blanc.  The palate is loaded with citrus flavors, like grapefruit and lime.  There’s also some melon flavor on the palate.  The acidity is just right.  The finish is medium-long and teaming with citrus and mineral flavors.

If you’re looking to explore Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, I highly recommend checking out those from Casablanca Valley.  And this Peñalolen is a nice example of what you can expect from this region.  To be clear, I’m not ruling out SB from other regions of Chile, but Casablanca Valley is pretty consistent and reliable for this varietal.

Wine: Peñalolen
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol: 12.5%
Rating: 87
Price: $12.00

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Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.