CURRENTLY SERVING:

Domaine De La Perriere Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc

Johnny Depp and Ira Einhorn had something in common. They fled this country to reside in France. They did so for different reasons (or maybe not, I can see JD killing people), but in terms of a more enjoyable culinary life, they both made a solid decision.

Gastronomically, I am a big fan. In terms of wine, it goes beyond fandom to a whole new level of Francophilia for me. We all deserve wine this good, this life-changing. I am excited to review this bottle, because it can be challenging to exchange a $20 bill for good French wine.

Pretend you know nothing about Sauvignon Blanc. Pretend you never drank a viscous, pungent, over-tropical fruity concoction that the new world passes off as this delicate beautiful wine. OK. Now, imagine that something smelling of stone and grass can be the most versatile white wine in your arsenal.

Aromas of cut grass and a flinty metal are what will strike your olfactory nerve when you first pour this lady into a glass. As she gets comfortable in her new surroundings, a few more characteristics of grapefruit rind and stone fruit begin to evolve.

The flavors here are almost all stone fruit notes, specifically hefty white-peachy goodness. The light citrus flavor of grapefruit will become more amplified and riper the longer and warmer the glass gets.

The finish is very abrupt and clean, as the acidity in the glass is very pronounced. But fear not, it isn’t tart enough to make your salivary glands freak out. It is in perfect balance.

Sauv Blanc is known (or should be, if it’s made properly) for its vibrant acidity. This juice is a textbook example of just how bright that acidity should be. The flavors are more subtle and austere, as the French balance all of their wines to be experienced while eating. They are designed as a companion to food, not a challenger.

Speaking of foods that pair well with Sancerre the list goes something like this: Goat cheese (Chevre), Cabrales, and Pecorino are great cheese buddies with Goat being the classic pairing. If you have never successfully paired wine with cheese, Goat+Sauv Blanc will make you realize what ‘pairing’ actually means.

The nuanced herb and grass aromas allow this wine to pair well with fragrant or aromatic salads, fennel, spinach, arugula, etc. Foods using light acidic flavoring like pomegranate and citrus also pronounce the vibrancy of the wine. Do not use a heavy hand though when turning to these flavorings as too much acidity will make it an unpleasant experience.

White meats like pork, chicken and fish all work really well with Sancerre. Same with oysters and lobster (not too heavy on the butter, but in moderate amounts the acid tears right through it). No red meat though, as the wine couldn’t handle the weight of a steak. This is the Swiss Army Knife of White Wine. Keep it around just in case you have an ‘Emergency Dinner Party’ you must attend.

You will find this wine in the French section of your liquor store for $18. The rest of the country is buying this at around $23. As you may have noticed, varietals are not listed on the French wines. They are listed by region. Sancerre is in the Loire Valley, the spiritual birthplace of Sauvignon Blanc. Because of AOC (French Wine Designation) Law, you are guaranteed a certain quality and 100% Sauvignon Blanc. No blending is allowed in this region.

This wine is designated as ‘Regular’ so it will be restocked and I have bought tons of it over the years. The board made a solid decision to stock this wine. The PLCB code is 008929.

Collin Flatt is a former Beer Pong champ turned oenophile. Collin Flatt spends his tax refunds on wine. Collin Flatt has his Bachelor’s Degree in drinking and is getting his Master’s Degree in winemaking. Collin Flatt is working on an Arctice Splash Cuvee. Collin Flatt writes about wine for Phoodie.info.

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