Varietal: Â 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Â Napa, California – USA
Cost: Â $20-$22 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Â The 2012 Le Petit Coquerel is a pure expression of Sauvignon Blanc. It has a nose of gooseberry and grapefruit. The wine mouth feel is crisp and bright with a creamy round mid palate followed by a long finish of exotic fruit, lychee, and papaya. The wine is delicious to enjoy alone or with light fare such as seafood, sushi, mild cheeses, or any Asian cuisine.
My Review: Â I don’t know how the weather has been where you are, but here in the Easter portion of North Carolina, the weather has, for the most part, been absolutely beautiful. Warm, sunny, and perfect for sitting outside with a glass of wine – which is exactly what I did this past weekend with some of the 2012 Le Petit Coquerel Sauvignon Blanc.
In the glass the wine was light in color, and on the nose I picked up grapefruit more than anything else. In the mouth the wine showed notes of lychee, citrus, and a grassy-ness that wasn’t unpleasant. Unlike the Sauvignon Blancs that I tend to find from South America, the acid on this wine was very demure, with just enough there to compliment the citrus notes, but not the hard acid bite I typically find in the grape from Chile. The wine wasn’t round – restrained is the better term.
The wine was more than enjoyable by itself, and when paired up with some buffalo chicken sliders for dinner on the back porch, the citrus was a nice way of cutting the heat of the food. That being said, I think pairing it with seafood would have been a better move.
All in all I enjoyed the wine. It’s a good price point, and it’s a nice departure if you find yourself overwhelmed by the acid of many of the Sauvignon Blanc wines on the market now.
Editor’s Note: I received this wine as a free sample for review.
