We are very fortunate. My sister-in-law and her husband, A&C, are very generous and have great taste. For Christmas they send us a mixed case of wine from Navarro Vineyards in Mendicino County. Opening the box every year is a delight.
Tonight we had a a Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Cuvée 128 from the cellar. The winery's tasting notes say
You will fall in love with the bright lime and kiwi flavors and the sensual hint of fig.
We certainly like this wine; the nose is crisp and clean, but with a nice earthy, almost sulfurous undertone. Perhaps that earthiness is the "hint of fig" they are talking about. On the palate the taste is again very clean and dry, with a grapefruit/lime zest flavor; the flavor is more intense than the actual fruit would be, and not as sweet or as pungent. There's a really nice mineral (but not chalky) tone. It's got quite a bit of acid, and it's not at all grassy like some American sauvignon blanc (perhaps that's the bit of Semillon that's in the blend).
It's got a nice, clean, zippy finish; the little bit of malic acid at the end gives it a zippy little feeling of carbonation at the back of the tongue.
It's listed at $16 on the web site; I'd give it a A-/91.
