Wine Store Tasting: Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir

I went to a free wine tasting at the Vintage Cellar in Blacksburg, VA. This review is on two of my favorite wines I tried. 

** I was unable to get a picture of myself holding the wines, for the store was too busy ** 

             

       Variety: Sauvignon Blanc                            Variety: Carneros Estate Pinot Noir

        Region: Marlborough                                  Region: Carneros, California

        Country: New Zealand                                Country: USA

        Vintage: 2019                                                Vintage:2022

        Price: $17.95                                                 Price: $28.95 

Sauvignon Blanc

Winery review: I noted light aromas of pineapple, grapefruit, and tomato leaf. The tomato leaf aroma surprised me a bit, however, it did match other reviews I’ve read. That assured me I wasn’t crazy! A subsequent pour revealed some sweeter whiffs of peach. There was no bite of alcohol on the palate. Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc's alcohol content is 13.0% by volume, per bottle. The wine’s taste was very crisp, with notes of tart tropical fruits, the slightest hint of mild ginger, and a little bit of minerality. Clean, tasty, and just a lovely sipper overall. Overall, I found this wine to be very enjoyable. I especially appreciated the complexities it exhibited in both aroma and flavor. Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc cost $17.99 as purchased from my local wine shop. Given this is a well-crafted New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, I think it’s a great under $20 choice.

Honest Wine Reviews: https://www.honestwinereviews.com/whitehaven-sauvignon-blanc-review#:~:text=Overall%2C%20I%20found%20this%20wine,a%20great%20under%20%2420%20choice.

Wine Folly:  "A unique-tasting white wine with strong herbaceous flavors that are derived from compounds called methoxyprazines. Sauvignon Blanc is a wonderful pairing partner with herb-driven sauces, salty cheeses, light meats, and last but not least, Asian food." (Page 165)

My review:  I am still not the greatest at figuring out the different nodes and aromas of different wines, though I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of peach I could smell, as well as the ginger I could taste. It was a sweet wine, as actually was very enjoyable to taste. I bought a bottle of this wine to try with my dinner afterward and it was lovely to drink with chicken and vegetables. 

Pinot Noir

Winery review: Pleasant aromas of dark berries and dark rose petals. Full-bodied in style, exhibiting a rush of boysenberry, black cherry, and black currant fruits with a hint of dark chocolate flavor. A voluptuous wine, yet has gentle power and admirable balance.

The Prince of Pinot: https://www.princeofpinot.com/winery/459/

Wine Folly:  "A versatile red wine for food pairing given the higher acidity and lower tannin. Pinot Noir tastes like it was meant for duck, chicken, pork, and mushrooms."

My review: This wine was very enjoyable to taste. I enjoyed the floral taste, for that is one of my favorite nodes to find in a wine. There were a lot of berry flavors. I was told there were nodes of peppercorn and cloves, though I was unable to find them.  It was a very tannic wine, and left my mouth puckered, though I've started to realize this is something I enjoy in wine.