Wine Lesson 149
Sun Herald
Sunday February 10, 2008
Sauvignon blanc can be pungent
One of the most popular white styles, sauvignon blanc is easy to drink and pairs well with many foods: seafood, Thai, Chinese and Japanese dishes such as tempura, sushi and sashimi. It's also popular because of its distinctive fragrance, which contains pungent scent compounds called pyrazines. These are responsible for the appealing notes of tropical fruits, green pepper, asparagus, tomato leaf, lemon grass, blackcurrant leaves, green beans and gooseberries. Then there are the more unusual and, some might say, less-pleasing aromas associated with this variety such as sweaty bicycle saddles and cat's pee, odours that are commonly associated with sex pheromones. So next time you take a sniff of savvy, remember there is more to the smell than meets the nostrils. Sally GudgeonWither Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2007, $23Nearly a year after vintage, this sauvignon blanc smells quite restrained, considering it comes from Marlborough. It's herbaceous rather than tropical and goes well with salade nicoise.Dominique Portet Sauvignon Blanc 2007, $26Portet is a wizard with sauvignon blanc; he creates both texture and complexity, as in this delicious example from the Yarra Valley. Match it with oysters. Henry Pelle Menetou-Salon 2006, $25The French styles from the Loire Valley tend to be less pungent than their new-world counterparts. This is delicate with a chalky texture. Serve it with goat's cheese.All wine prices are approximate
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