Varietal Focus: BC Sauvignon Blanc

Not a lot of Sauvignon Blanc is grown in BC, it certainly isn't a signature grape of the Province's wine regions... any of them. That doesn't mean there aren't some absolutely fabulous versions of the ancient varietal on option.

There is no one definitive style of BC Sauvignon Blanc. Some showcase the pungent, or, pleasantly stinky characteristics of the varietal while others focus more on clean, crisp expressions of acidic and mouth-watering fruit. 

Here is a list of our favourite Sauvignon Blanc, year-in, year-out, grouped by style:

Pungent

Fairview Cellars 2018 Sauvignon Blanc - $22
A pleasantly pungent and boisterous vintage of Sauvignon Blanc with aromas and flavours of gooseberries, grapefruit, crab apple, stone fruit, and grass. This Sauvignon Blanc has body and a corpulent, complex texture with layers of fruit peaking through tart tinges of citrus acidity and crisp, mineral notes.
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River Stone Estate Winery 2018 Sauvignon Blanc - $22
Subtler, on the pleasantly pungent nose than recent, more aromatic vintages, the 2018 edition of Sauvignon Blanc, sourced from a neighboring property in Oliver, keeps with the house style of a punchy mixture of herbs, citrus zest and tropical fruit.
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Clean'n'Crisp

Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars 2018 Sauvignon Blanc - $25
Opens with a subtle, Loire-esque scented nose with a focus more on fresh, fleshy fruit and rounded savoury aromas than the more in-your-face, pungent, New Zealand style of Sauvignon Blanc. This subtlety is juxtaposed by a bracing wave of Champagne-worthy acidity on the otherwise, similarly flavoured palate where added notes of herbs, spice, minerals and lemon zest add complexity.
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Bench 1775 Winery 2017 Estate Sauvignon Blanc - $26
This new release leans more towards the Loire Valley in profile when compared to the multi-site blends of previous vintages. Less pungency and more laser-focused fruit and minerality, though, a touch of exotic fruit shows on the otherwise, stonefruit and citrusy-peach flavoured finish.
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Somewhere In-between

La Frenz Winery 2018 Sauvignon Blanc - $22
A balanced, well-constructed Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of pungency on the nose but primarily a showcase for how nicely citrus and melon fruit can coexist. The palate is bright and lip-smacking with just a hint of residual sugar on the lightly savoury and effervescent finish. Ready to be enjoyed in its youth.
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Winemaker's Cut 2018 Sauvignon Blanc - $26

A single vineyard cuvée sourced from Oliver, explores textural layers on its crisp, mineraly and fruity palate and offers a subtle, delicate medley of citrus, tropical and orchard fruit aromas on the nose. Slightly dialed back from the extravagant 2017 edition, though, likely more accessible to the more casual fans of this pungent varietal.

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- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca