Pierre Chainier 1749 Sauvignon Blanc 2009

this little beauty for the patio comes from france and is pleasing to the palate and to the wallet. selling for about $12, 1749 is not for fans of the big grapefruit flavored sauv blancs from new zealand. it is far more delicate and actually easier to drink by itself. the nose has some light citrus, tropical fruit and slightly floral notes. the palate on this one is light and crisp with nice citrus flavors. there is also a little floral note and some earthy stony notes in the finish. excellent by itself as a patio pounder, this white is also a nice wine to try with asian foods or a nice summer salad.

Guenoc Lake County Sauvignon Blanc 2009

more warm weather patio pounders? with temperatures getting into the 70's, i say yes! this lovely white comes from langtry estate in california, north of napa. the wine is 100% sauvignon blanc. the nose has some nice tropical fruit and citrus, as well as some mineral aromas. the palate is loaded with pineapple and guava. there is also some grassy flavors and some nice earthy, mineral notes. the wine is fresh and crisp and is perfect for sipping while enjoying warm weather and the foods that go with it, like salads and light seafood. sells for about $10.

Henry Brochard Sauvignon Blanc 2010

warmer weather is upon us in the northeast, and that means patio pounders! i lean on the white wines more in the warmer months for their refreshing capabilities. this one from france is good for that reason and priced right at about $15. the nose is citrus, apple, mineral, and a little more citrus. the palate has lots of tropical fruit flavors (guava, grapefruit peel, lemon), some nice mineral notes, and a little gooseberry. snappy and tart on the tongue with a crisp finish, this one is great by itself, but also works with any lighter summer foods.

Pucela Viura Sauvignon Blanc 2009

i've been trying quite a few european wines lately and spanish wines have always interested me. i usually go for the reds, so this white was a bit off the beaten path for me. but i am always looking for a nice, inexpensive patio pounder. this one definitely works, selling for about $8. a fifty/fifty blend of viura and sauvignon blanc, the nose had green apples, some citrus, and a little minerality. the palate was very crisp and had  lemon peel, citrus and some green apple flavors. the wine finished with some nice length. nice wine by itself or with seafood, salad or chicken.

Man O'War Sauvignon Blanc 2009

new zealand has gotten a reputation for their very nice sauvignon blancs, and this one, selling for about $11, is fairly typical of this new zealand varietal. the nose has lots of tropical notes, some nice herbal and grassy aromas. and a little touch of spice. the palate is very crisp, with lots of guava, grapefruit and some mineral notes. this is followed by a spicy finish. this will work well with a variety of lighter foods, with seafoods or aisian fare. i would look for this to be a nice summer patio pounder as well.

Gamble Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2009

i have written about gamble before. their paramount red blend was an exceptional wine. this sauv blanc is far different from many i have tried. and that is a good thing. selling for about $13, this is a white that has a nose of pineapple, peach, tropical fruit, and some floral notes. the palate is a beautiful mix of tropical fruit. i picked up some guava, pineapple, and a little bit of coconut in the finish. there are also some nice apple and mineral flavors. the wine has a beautiful creamy mouth feel and crisp finish. we enjoyed this with some breaded chicken, roasted red potatoes, and sauteed vegetables.

Indaba Sauvignon Blanc 2008

i wrote about a couple of varietals (chenin blanc and merlot) from this south african producer a while back and had the opportunity to try their sauvignon blanc recently. for a maker of wines at this price range ($8), these folks know how to do it right. i have not had anything from indaba that has been disappointing. the sauv blanc is no exception. the nose had citrus, some pineapple and a little spicy pepper. the palate was an interesting combination of citrus and spice. nothing like the new zealand grapefruit bombs. this had a juicy mouth feel and a little zing in the finish. good summer time patio pounder. try it with seafood or sushi.

Domaine du Chateau d'Eau Sauvignon Blanc 2007

i tried this nice suavignon blanc from france recently. when compared to some of the grapefruit heavy new zealand styles, this one is very nice. it sells for about $12 and has a nose of cirtus and tropical fruit, with some slightly grassy notes and a little floral aroma. the palate was somewhat grassy, with tropical fruit undertones. nice mineral notes and a crisp, elegant finish. this is a great wine for sushi and other seafood or fish dishes.

Beyond Sauvignon Blanc 2009

this is the last white from the south african wines i have been writing about. cooler weather is starting to arrive which means more reds. beyond is from the costal region known for their white wines. this one sells for the nice price of about $11. if you are a sauv blanc drinker, this is worth a try. the nose is citrus and a little melon. nice mineral notes on the nose too. the palate has lots of lime up front, followed by some interesting green pepper notes. it finishes with crisp mineral notes and some nice herbal flavors. good with many different foods, but i enjoyed by itself after dinner.

Maryhill Sauvignon Blanc 2008

summer white wines always include sauvignon blancs and this one from washington is very nice. selling for about $12 this one has aromas of pear, pineapple tropical fruit and honey. The palate has subtle grapefruit, granny smith apple and some tropical fruit flavors. nice mineral notes and good clean finish. easy drinking white that i enjoyed with pulled pork barbecue and potato salad. try it with salads or seafood too.

Wise Guy Sauvignon Blanc 2009

another owen roe selection, this sauv blanc is from the outlook vineyard in the yakima valley in oregon. the nose is fresh hay and mineral notes along with some citrus notes. on the palate a nice burst of citrus, with lemon and some lime zest. very nice mineral crispness to this as well, with wet stone notes coming through. sells for about $13 and will work really well with some scallops or other seafood dishes. or makes for a nice patio pounder on a hot summer day.

Brancott Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2007

i am off to new zealand with this sauvignon blanc. a great summer time wine, sauv blanc can be great with lots of summer fare and this one is no exception. selling for about $18, this sauv blanc has a nose of citrus and passion fruit. the palate was citrus, most notably grapefruit, and some green pepper. nice mineral notes at the finish. as i said, this one will work with summer fare, like grilled shrimp or nice salads. well worth the price. i revisited this today and got some really big tropical fruit on the palate, guava and passion fruit. very complex, very nice sauv blanc.

Bird Sauvignon Blanc 2007

warmer weather means it is time to break out more white wines, and i go to sauv blancs quite often. this one from aorearoa, new zealand, was introduced to me at a recent tasting at my local wine merchant. the nose was grassy and tropical, with kiwi fruit aromas. the palate was not your typical grapefruit bomb that many new zealand sauv blancs seem to gravitate toward. this one had some of the citrus flavor, but there was some nice floral and passion fruit notes as well. a little zing in the finish of spice. good patio pounder that would work well with asian or seafood dishes. sells for about $13.

Tall Horse Sauvignon Blanc 2007

we are getting into that warm weather white wine season and i saw this new offering on my local grocery chain shelf for the really nice price of $8. tall horse is from south africa and i don't remember having a south african sauvignon blanc before. time to try one. the nose was minerals and a little herbs and grass. interesting yellow color on this one by the way. the palate was light and crisp, with nice mineral and light tropical fruit notes. nothing like the grapefruity new zealand sauv blancs. i really liked this one a lot. great patio pounder for this summer. serve it with grilled shrimp or just salads and lighter cheese. well worth a try.

Palliser Sauvignon Blanc 2006

back down under for this sauvignon blanc from new zealand. selling for about $18, this summer time white has a nose of passion fruit, white peach and some nice floral notes. the palate has really nice peach flavors, along with a little citrus and grass notes. this is not a typical grapefruit sauvignon blanc from new zealand, so it is worth a try for that reason alone. nice full finish on this one. good summer food wine or just as a refreshing sipper on the deck.

Goldwater Sauvignon Blanc 2007

time for another nice patio pounder that refreshes the palate in the warm weather. this sauv blanc from new zealand has a nose of white peaches, some grapefruit and pineapple and a touch of melon. the palate is nicely balanced with some crisp acidity and flavors of tropical fruit, like pineapple and grapefruit, with touches of herbal notes and a nice long finish. perfect for sipping after a long day at the office while sitting on the deck. sells for about $17.

Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc 2007

interesting sauvignon blanc from new zealand. melons, grass, and lime on the nose. the palate was in many ways very typical of new zealand with lots of tropical fruit flavors, especially grapefruit and pineapple, but the interesting part was the spice note. usually you get the tart, citrus finish. this one had a white pepper note that was a different and enjoyable change. gave the wine a really nice zingy finish. good summer deck wine that will go with most summer fare. sells for about $15.

Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc 2008

i prefer red wine but in the warm weather, nothing beats a nice chilled white for the patio. this new zealand offering fits the bill and all for the nice price of about $10. the nose is citrus and tropical fruits. the flavor was very new zealand with lots of citrus and pear and some nice mineral notes in a nicely structured wine with a crisp, medium finish. perfect for all your favorite summer time dishes, you will want to go back for more of this after you finish the first bottle.

Root:1 Sauvignon Blanc 2008

wine three from root:1 is the sauvignon blanc. this one is a bit different from other sauv blancs i have tried. not as heavy on the grapefruit as the new zealand variety. the nose was pears and honey dew melon and a little bit of citrus. the taste was green melon and lime, and very heavy mineral notes. the mineral was almost a bit overpowering at times. the citrusy lime flavors also came through in the back and the wine had a very crisp finish. not one of my favorite sauv blancs. sells for about $11-12.

Three Stones Sauvignon Blanc 2008

i seem to be on a bit of an aussie/new zealand kick lately, so i'll stay there for another one. this sauv blanc hails from the new zealand marlborough region. this falls into that tropical fruit style of sauv blanc, so if you are a fan, this one is worth the try. the nose was pineapple, citrus, especially grapefruit, and a little mineral note. the flavor was full and fruity, with pineapple, passion fruit, honey and a nice crisp citrus finish. a patio pounder for sure. the wine sells for about $12-14 and will be on the baldwinegeek table this summer. excellent white for the money.