The Dorks convened to taste Sauvignon Blanc from around the world. 20 wines were poured, but unfortunately I didn't get notes on all of them (getting the bottles passed to my end of the table for accurate label-reading was a constant issue). So here's what I could glean:
The night started with a sparkling sauvignon blanc pet nat from Bergerac. Delicious but impossible to guess, and I have no idea who made it. Then:
2021 Tiare Collio Sauvignon
Doran's. Pale, almost clear with fresh green bell pepper and lemony citrus. Hand-carried back from Doran's recent trip to Italy.
Very good.
Next was a 2014 Francois Cotat from Sancerre. I don't know which one, I merely wrote 'Cide' after the name based on what I was hearing but the bottle problem just mentioned interfered with me getting any more information, and I couldn't match 'Cide' up with anything on CT. About the wine itself, I merely wrote "Serious stuff".
2021 Le Vieux Pin Sauvignon Blanc Okanagan Valley
My wine. Pale, almost clear. Nose of tarragon and fresh jalapeno, light gooseberry, minerally, dry and pure with only 12.7% abv. One of the OK's best.
2022 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
Vic's. Those of us who experienced this wine back in the 90's will be glad to see it return to form: pale, clear, grassy, dry and taut. Most recent vintages have gone off the rails--fleshier and more forward. This one is back where it all began for me.
2022 Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc Cape South Coast
Doran's. Pale and clean. Wild pea vine, green corn husk, yellow plums, cut grass, beautiful and balanced in every way. This is an excellent vintage and incredible value--better than I had given this brand credit for, though others have raved.
2021 Paolo Scavino Langhe Sorriso Langhe DOC White Blend
My bottle. A blend of chardonnay, sauv blanc and viognier, I threw it into an all-Sauv Blanc tasting expecting it to be an obvious but welcome outlier (some in the group are not SB fans). But no, sweet sungold tomato, pear and spice with enough herbs to unexpectedly keep anyone from suspecting it wasn't 100% SB. Really good, happy to have more in the cellar.
2021 Wohlmuth Sauvignon Blanc Ried Steinriegl Südsteiermark
Hannah's. Showed some aromas and flavors not unlike NZ Sauv Blancs with some ripeness and generosity. Tasty.
2019 Upchurch Sauvignon Blanc Southwest Facing Boushey Vineyard Yakima Valley
Gabe's. I liked this on release but less so a year later and more years have passed since then, and not to its benefit. Flavors were caramelized pineapple, bitter almond and texturally it had jagged edges. Not the least bit refreshing.
2021 Wohlmuth Sauvignon Blanc Kitzeck-Sausal Südsteiermark
Tim's. A gem from Austria with chalk, crushed oyster shell, lime, peas, freshy, vibrant.
2021 Dossier Wine Sauvignon Blanc Yakima Valley
My bottle. The last bottle of this we drank alone; this time it was the 12th of 20 in a tasting of Sauv Blancs from anywhere. Super hefty, limestone minerality, acacia honey, raw coconut, "must have oak" said someone though that's not the case but it's main course weight from 42 hours of skin contact is deceptive, good acidity, impressive. Guesses from others ruled out the rest of the planet before anyone suggested it might be a Washington state wine (where we all live).
2022 Vina Kobal Sauvignon Blanc Štajerska
Tim's. Quince, ripe yet lean, very old world, different and exciting. Fantastic to appreciate a wine like this in an all SB tasting.
2012 Domaine Pascal Cotat Sancerre La Grande Côte Sauvignon Blanc
Warren's. Perfumey, oleander, elderberry flower, orange creamsicle--very complex with subtle power. One of the best of the night.
2021 Serge Dagueneau Pouilly-Fumé Les Pentes Sauvignon Blanc
Tim's, though this is a wine I've owned. "Chock full of chalk", said someone at the table, which goes straight into a sweet finish. Not at all like previous bottles.
2022 Nikau Point Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
Our bottle was a lot better than either of the two notes already posted, so I'll award points to up the average as it deserves (though I rarely do points). Hatch green chile, dust and green apple with a limestone-like minerality. Very good.
2009 Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc Noble Late Harvest Stellenbosch
Deep amber color. Honeysuckle, apricot preserves, butternut squash and an underlying streak of mint. Absolute nectar.
This wasn't in the tasting but I'd planned to bring one along. Opened it a few days earlier, though, and found:
2020 J. Rochioli Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley
Almost colorless, opened for a blind tasting lunch in which it offered little flavor and varietal character. To be fair, it followed a gaggle of aged Huets which isn't easy. Took the remainder of the bottle home and tasted it again last night. Glad I did because though atypical for Cali in a more taut, less ripe style than I'm used to even from Rochioli, the varietal character was there in spades. If you own these, decant in advance or give it more cellar time.