Aromas of melon, tangerine, lime and orange blossom are fruity and bright, with hints of grass and limestone. This energetic, medium-bodied white is clean and crisp, unfolding its refreshing lemon and quince flavors with great verve and focus. Unusually for a wine aged in stainless-steel tanks, it has a somewhat creamy texture, with a silky intensity that helps make it wonderfully drinkable.
Underripe pineapple, tangerine, honey, cantaloupe and orange blossom.
SBS stands for the grape varieties in this zesty white: Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Blending these varieties is traditional in Bordeaux, their native home, where nearly all white wines include both grapes, as Semillon helps to soften Sauvignon Blanc's tart, bright flavors. This vivacious blend comes from Cadaretta, a new boutique winery owned by the Middletons, a Washington family who made their fortune in the 1900s by shipping lumber. Winemaker and French native Virginie Bourgue crafted the wine using grapes from two vineyards in Washington's Columbia Valley, a vast region that shares the same latitude as Bordeaux, where long daylight hours make the most of the short summers. Some of the grapes came from the south-facing slope of the Arete Vineyard, with excellent sun exposure that helps the fruit to ripen. This vineyard straddles Radar Hill near Othello, a town about 100 miles southwest of Spokane. The second site, Spring Creek Vineyard, lies in the Yakima Valley, where the dry, cool weather yields crisp whites. Bourgue aged the wine in stainless steel tanks, which allow the fruit flavors to come through with terrific clarity. Only 40 barrels were produced.
With its satiny texture, this crisp white is ideal for luxurious shellfish like scallops and crab, which need only a little butter and a squeeze of lemon to create a perfect pairing. The crisp acidity and clean fruit flavors of the Cadaretta SBS will also partner well with oysters, mussels, clams and sushi, while the wine's textured roundness and intensity will stand up to flaky white fish. For accent flavors, complement Sauvignon Blanc's freshness and inherent herbaceousness with fresh green herbs, or play to the wine's fruity side with any fresh seasonal fruit, especially citrus and tropical varieties. This is a serious food wine and will make a great pairing with my Sole Veronique, a classic French recipe that is elegant yet simple. The preparation contains grapes in a light herb sauce that makes the sole really come alive.
"Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of good wine" ~ St. Thomas Aquinas
