Wine Recommendation
Spicewood Vineyards
2005 Sauvignon Blanc(Texas Hill Country)
Spicewood Vineyards is one of a handful of Texas wineries that is a complete estate operation. They make about ten wines, all with merit, but their two best are the Sauvignon Blanc and their Semillon.
Where many appellations around the world are targeting hugely extracted Sauvignon Blancs that resemble a grapefruit/pineapple juice cocktail, Spicewood Vineyards likes the Sancerre style of light, fragrant and clean flavors. One of the top French trained chefs in Austin keeps a case refrigerated at all times because it’s the only American wine she has found that reminds her of Sancerre.
I’m a big fan of Graves Blanc, and have repeatedly asked winemaker Ed Manigold to try a Bordeaux blend of his Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, sadly, to no avail.
The $11.99 price makes this Sauvignon Blanc quite a bargain. The winery sells out of this wine quickly, so put your orders in fast.
Reviewed October 2, 2006 by Wes Marshall.
The Wine
Winery: Spicewood Vineyards |
The Reviewer
Wes Marshall
Wes Marshall is the wine writer for the Austin Chronicle where his column turned into the inspiration for a book, “The Wine Roads of Texas,” which in turn has now become a three-part PBS documentary. His never-ending search is for value wines – be they $10 a bottle or $100 – which he defines as tasting better than most other wines at twice the price. As wines become more homogenized, he has been a keen advocate of appellation-specific flavors and aromas, and always marks up for luxurious mouthfeel. |