by Ethan Johnson
May 26, 2006
(I hope to have wine reviews more often than once a month. FYI.)
Scenario: You have guests coming over, and you're in need of a good "compromise" wine. Not in terms of quality, but some people like sweeter wines while others prefer drier. If popping open multiple bottles of wine is not an option, what one wine can satisfy the most people AND pair well with your dishes?
Let's reach into the wine fridge:
Producer (Vineyard): MAN Vintners
Varietal (Grape type): Sauvingnon Blanc
Vintage (Year): 2005
Country: South Africa
Color: White
Cost: Inexpensive (Under $10 USD)
The above scenario is ripped from "real life". I had family over, all of whom either outright prefer white over red, or will drink white as a fallback option. If a red drinker is going to "settle" for white, they tend to lean drier and not sweeter. White-drinking types tend to lean sweeter as a rule, in my experience. I don't drink red generally but am finding myself leaning drier with my whites over time.
Swirl and Sniff: Color is pale and clear. I dove right in with the tasting, but when I was thinking more swirl-and-sniff oriented the last time I drank this it had a grassy/floral, citrus-y nose to it.
Taste: Sma-ooth. This stuff goes down like water. You are warned.
Pairing: I served my famous Tagliatelle Bolognese using ground turkey instead of ground round beef. This wine navigates through and around whatever you're eating quite well. It doesn't seem to radically change the taste of what you're eating pro or con, which makes this a good all-purpose white for "mixed" company.
Rating: When it comes to this wine, I would (and you may):
- Buy a case of for regular enjoyment
- Buy a bottle or two for occasional enjoyment
- Ask for when dining out or at a party
- Settle for if your preferred wine is not available
- Politely decline and never drink again, ever
Give it a try. If you do, let me know how your experience compared with mine. Thanks! <EM>
(The Totally Unpretentious Wine Reviews Index may be found here.)
