Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
At one time, picking a New Zealand sauvignon blanc was easy – they were always laced with exotic fruit flavors, lower in acidity than their French counter parts, but still well-balanced. However, over the last few vintages, we have seen a stylistic shift – there are many versions that lean towards brighter, tangy acidity, with more flavors of grapefruit, lime and lemon. These crisp NZ sauvignon blanc wines work very well with food (maybe not so well on their own) – but you can find some excellent versions which maintain the unique NZ flavors.
Our favorite of the crisp version is Saint Clair. We were surprised by the flowery, intense aroma that melded into wonderful crisp citrus flavors. This wine is excellent with salads and fish – it was perfect with our grilled salmon and red cabbage and fennel slaw, dressed with our Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette (see our recipe posting: http://theseriousfoodie.net/making-vinaigrettes/#2). This wine is always less than $20, and is now easier to find in the US.
Dog Point remains one of our go-to favorites – easy to drink on its own, but with well-balanced acidity to make it easy to pair with many foods. It has distinctive stone-fruit aromas and flavor – think peach and apricot – with an after-taste of tropical fruits. It’s been one of the best bargains at $18 a bottle.
Other wines to try: Dashwood, Spy Valley, Craggy Range, and Cloudy Bay.
