If the “under $10″ Sauvignon Blanc category is getting thin, the “over $10, under $20″ still has a lot of legs. There are a wide variety of choices in that range. I have a feeling I’ll be in this category of varietal well into the late spring and perhaps early summer.
I picked up a bottle of Rodney Strong 2009 Charlotte’s Home Sauvignon Blanc at the local liquor store on Friday and stuck it in the fridge to chill while I made dinner – tuna croquettes with peas and perl onions in a butter sauce. While the pairing wasn’t a problem, I had issues once again with a California screw cap. Guess I’ll have to get over that since it’s more common than not now. Perhaps I just like the uncorking experience. Regardless, the $14.99 bottle was really nice, I mean really nice! While not as brash as a New Zealand, there was citrus there but also some softer notes on the nose, pear perhaps. All that lingered nicely through the finish. There was a slight mineral taste there, but not unpleasant or powerful. Nicely subtle.
I should have purchased 2 bottles since it went down way too easy. I had to pace myself to make it last the evening. In some ways it reminded me of more expensive Sancerre, but not quite as delicate.
I’ll give this one a 9/10 on my scale. It certainly was worth the $14.99 and I’m keeping this one in mind as the spring approaches.
