Clos Du Bois , 1998 Sauvignon Blanc Review

I admit it, I tend to get into a rut.  When I find a wine I like I stick with the winery for quite a while, exploring as many of their wines as I can before moving on.  My latest 'rut' is the Clos Du Bois (CDB) winery and after enjoying the ' 98  chardonnay, I couldn't wait to see what else they had to offer. Dinner this evening was going to be fairly heavy, with grilled pork and I wanted a big white wine to stand up to the meal. I saw a few remaining bottles of CDB 1998 Sauvignon Blanc on the shelf and, crossing my fingers, scooped one up.

Inexpensive Nirvana
The aroma of oak and grapes greeted me as I opened the bottle - a nice start.  In the glass, there was a pleasant clarity and a very light yellow color. A(nother) sniff and swirl revealed more oak, grape and some vanilla. In the mouth, the wine began with a hint of vanilla, fresh melons and a pleasant tartness. The wine has semillon added to "soften the herbaceous, varietal character" and it does result in a smooth, crisp, taste. The finish was nice and clean. The wine was a very good, very enjoyable accompaniment to the meal, and while it would pair nicely with all the traditional white wine meals, it would also stand well alone.

Cost and Availability
$8.00 for a 750 ml bottle.  This wine was in wide release but, according to the wine shop manager, is becoming harder to find. (I know why! Wonder if those last couple bottles are still on the shelf.....)

The Bottom Line
If your looking for a very good, inexpensive, white wine to accompany your summer grilling - this is it.