WTN: Hey little sister, what have you done?

[Jenise]

2019 Halleck Sauvignon Blanc Little Sister Russian River Valley
Stellar, maybe benchmark, California Sauvignon Blanc, much improved in texture and body over a previous bottle one year ago. Light yellow-gold color. Vivid fruit of Eureka lemon and fresh basil. Lightly grassy but also really sunny and fresh, not feral--with a good core of minerality. Really really excellent with halibut under a green chile-cumin buerre blanc.

Btw, Halleck isn't a winery I see mentioned around wine boards much, though the winery has been quite successful with its pinots (first vineyard planted in 1993) and of late has a one-man cheering squad in singer Josh Groban. But I've liked them and I may like this SB even more. (Given a chance, Bueker might even like it.) Worth noting: an avid taster of Cali wines who comments on my TNs on CT contacted me about this note, says he thinks this SB is one of the very best in the state. IOW, if you won't take my word for it....

Looked up Halleck, Jenise. Had never heard of it. Price direct from winery listed as $39. Gulp. Interesting selection of wines, but $$$$.

[David M. Bueker]

It’s a nice day for a white wineing.

[Jenise]

Looked up Halleck, Jenise. Had never heard of it. Price direct from winery listed as $39. Gulp. Interesting selection of wines, but $$$$.

Yeah. I liked this so much I thought oh I'll call them and order a case--until I saw the price.

[David M. Bueker]

I am not paying $39 for SB!

New Zealand. Marlborough. Lots of SB choices often under $10. Daily & weekend drinkers.

[David M. Bueker]

New Zealand. Marlborough. Lots of SB choices often under $10. Daily & weekend drinkers.

Nope. Nope. Nope.

I really do hate almost all Sauvignon Blanc.

New Zealand. Marlborough. Lots of SB choices often under $10. Daily & weekend drinkers.

Nope. Nope. Nope.

I really do hate almost all Sauvignon Blanc.

This I know, David. Posted as others might find helpful.

Oh, and Chilean Sauv Blanc is also decent. Just have to make sure the label is Sauv Blanc, as some Sauv Vert will surface.

[Jenise]

If $10 is all you have to spend, you're right Pat. But I'd rather spend more and drink better. which one can do in the $20-30 range and still save money over the $40 stuff. Bought two NZ SB's this weekend--Cloudy Bay and Jules Taylor.

[Jenise]

Oh, and at Costco prices, Craggy Ranch and Greywacke are excellent for about $16. Only 60% more than the $10 stuff but 150% more elegant (the CR) and vibrant (the Greywacke).

Jenise, good points and suggestions. LWS has Cloudy Bay for $29. Another option similar to the Cloudy Bay approach is Lawson's Dry Hills. About $16-$20 if you can find it. Marlborough.

Chilean SB from Casablanca Valley is more upscale. My fav there is Kingston Family, but usually you have to order directly from them. And speaking of ordering direct, many of the whites from Navarro, Mendocino, are reliable. And the SB is $24 now, but cheaper in a sampler. Sampler cases have one-cent shipping offers regularly. No $ relationship with any of these ideas except as a customer.

Dry white cheers!

[David M. Bueker]

Been a Navarro customer for years, but not so much recently. It used to be my source for dry Riesling, but since Germany has taken up the trocken mantle I generally go that way.

I do love the Navarro Cluster Select Late Harvest wines. Should stock up on those sometime soon.

[Jenise]

I'm a Navarro customer too. Their pinot noir rose used to be an annual case purchase for me. If I catch the 1 cent shipping sale I might be one this year too. We just drank our last '17 and it was the best bottle of all. I appreciate that kind of resilience.