Drink #19 Sauvigon Blanc

2.14.2012

Here is the thing about wine, now that I’m actually ordering/buying/drinking it, I’m actually paying attention to the names, brands, varieties.  Before the Adventure I kinda knew of Turning Leaf, Barefoot, Coppola, Layercake and Cupcake. And only really because of commercials or friends and family.

And if I’m being completely honest, when Joe is occupied and I have to pick out wine for something, I would always awkwardly choose something white with a funky monkey or a mermaid on the label. I mean, I swear, if there was ever a Mermaid Monkey wine I’d co-op an acre of the vineyard.

This was the very first time I purchased my own wine to drink. For my past wine firstdrinks, I’ve been at a restaurant or someone’s brought the bottle. But here I was, on my own, spending a solid 10 minutes alone in the wine isle at Target (yes, yes, I know…) before Joe found me and was pushing to go.

You’d think I’d be getting used to this level of seemingly hopeless virginity, but nope.  Not yet.  Wine is so daunting. There are so many varieties, brands per variety, sub-brands and specialty wines.

I saw one that looked like it was mixed with chocolate milk, one that was a vampire vino with “just a touch of blood orange”. See what they did there? And one that was a “lite-chardonnay” that literally looked just like water, even when I held it up to the florescents. And this was only Target.

[Do I mention it was a full grocery Target? Does anyone care really? Probably not. Wait, what about it being the only Target in DC and it’s 2 stories? Eh, skip it.]

I was weirdly overwhelmed. And I had to pick one. And I have always been interested in Cupcake Vineyards. So I found a bottle of a variety I haven’t tried yet, sauvigon blanc and headed to the checkout.

So far, I’ve tried moscato, chardonnay, port and sangria (if that counts) already on the Adventure, and for the most part I’ve heard of those varieties. But sauvigon blanc? What? I mean who knew of that kind, am I right?!

*crickets*

Oh, just me? Right.

It was Valentine’s Day and Joe was cooking for both of us. He never cooks, so this was a treat within a treat for me. He was making vegy quoina burgers and I made a peach & blackberry cobbler. We were attempting to go comfort-healthy.

While Joe was cooking I opened the bottle and poured myself a glass of the sauvigon blanc. A few sips in and I quickly realized I am far far too green to be picking out wine, apparently.

Um. Well. Can I first say I really like port? No? Get on with the review? Oh, ok.

Well, I tasted sour fermented grapes, a touch of grapefruit, some bitter lemon flavors. I typically like those flavor profiles. But this was oddly musky, very funky and slightly dry. The alcohol flavor was striking, like the sting of bleach.

That is not to say this sauvigon blanc tasted like bleach! No no, it was more like, um, lemon Windex? It was devoid of sweetness, but had a light carbonation that I can only assume was to give it a sense of personality. An attempt at a nicer one, perhaps.

The wine kept making me frown. And fair warning–do not drink this with sweet food, it only make sit far worse. Brings out all the sour, funky notes in full bloom.

I kept tasting it and saying “This is a preference? People like this flavor? Really?” Even with some of the other wines I’ve tasted, I could get why people liked them, even if I didn’t. Please, seriously forgive me, but this one eluded me.

You know, at one point, I was thinking about doing a shot for tonight, and then I remembered I’m not a single lady out on the town with her girlfriends on Valentine’s Day, nor am I a single man out on the town by myself trolling for single women out on the town with her girlfriends on Valentine’s Day.

But now I wish I had done 2 butterynipple shots. Oh, how I wish I had.

Eh, you win some you choke down lose some.

Here is the funny thing. I’ve been told by friends and family alike “I bet you’ll gravitate toward white wines, sweet wines.” And for the most part, I haven’t fallen in love with a white yet. And moscato was one of my least favorites because of it’s sweet side. And then I really enjoyed port, which was surprising, and not just for the sweetness, but for it’s complexity.

I’m enjoying beers, I’m loving bourbon. Discovering all of these flavors and interests are not just surprising you, they’re surprising me.

So, yes, I did not like this sauvigon blanc. And if the port flight I was on last week taught me anything it’s that each brand of any said variety can differ significantly. So I’m not damning sauvigon blanc, I’m just boldly going to avoid it.

So if it tries to friend me on Facebook, I’m going to click “not now”.

Oh, and my adorable husband’s burgers were the highlight of the evening. As was spending time with him watching 30 Rock reruns in our running shorts and t-shirts. As a Valentine’s day–wine aside–it was damn near perfect.

Cheers, Ben

PS: TONIGHT!! My #firstdrinkHappyHour at the Blue Banana Rock & Sports Bar with a special firstdrink “pup-tail” cocktail with part of the proceeds going to support the Washington Animal Rescue League. Its going to be a great time, tonight from 6:30-8:30pm. I hope you can come out and do a little drinking for some great animals who need a home.