When one thinks of the best Sauvignon Blancs globally, one thinks first of Loire Valley and particularly Sancerre which has attained an invincible brand image. However, they are outrageously expensive; Sauvignon Blanc from Domaines La Perriere a few kms away, is extremely well priced and can be available in Mumbai and Gurgaon for Rs.1200, whereas Sancerre costs upwards of Rs.2500-3500, writes Subhash Arora.
 The owner of Domaines La Perriere, Guy Saget is a 9th Generation Family owned and managed winery which also makes Sancerre and the other appellation Pouilly Fume which are both Sauvignon Blanc from their own estate while this one is made from grapes from Domaine d’Artois, located on the right bank of the Loire. I had an opportunity of tasting this wine at the Taste 2011 in Mumbai where Arnold Saget had visited last month.
The pale golden colour wine is brilliant (a wine characteristic that refers to the visual shades and reflections in a wine in the glass and has nothing to do with its brain!) and has very intensive aromas of familiar exotic fruits like ripe peaches and pears. It’s clean and fresh with vivaciousness due to crisp acidity that invites you to reach for the second sip involuntarily. After-taste is slightly mineral but not very long- but it does not die down like coke either. On the palate it is dry but fruitiness would make it interesting as an aperitif with Indian snacks like bhel puri (not samosas-would be too chili hot) or pleasant with salads, grilled vegetables, fish, lightly spiced Indian foods, including stuffed parathas and vegetarian pullao, risotto and vegetarian or sea-food paella.
As a bonus, it is rather low in alcohol at only 12.5%. The light body wine needs to be served slightly chilled at around 10° C.
The wine, a part of the portfolio of the Lore Valley producer Guy Saget, imported by Aspri Wines in Mumbai retails at Rs.1400. But the importers have agreed to sell it to the readers of delWine for Rs.1200 a bottle, if bought by the case-Maharashtra and Haryana have no hang ups about selling at the fixed MRP, so long as it is not higher. A great party wine and daily drinking French Vine de France (new appellation) from Loire Valley, the home of exciting Sauvignon Blancs- especially in summer.
Contact directly- Bihari Batra at 9820189377 for Mumbai and Biju at 9871288273 for Gurgaon/ Delhi
Subhash Arora |
