We opened this bottle last night, and I can’t wait to fill up another glass this evening.  One of my favorite things about wine in general is that the same variety of grape grown in two different regions can produce wines with entirely different characteristics due to the influence of factors like soil composition and sun exposure.  If you’d like to experience this for yourself, compare (1) the Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand that I reviewed last week with (2) the Sancerre for which this post is named, which is a Sauvignon Blanc from the Sancerre appellation of France’s Loire Valley.

On comparison, you’d find that both of these wines have citrus flavor, but the citrus manifests itself as tart grapefruit and lime in the Whitehaven, as opposed to chalky lemon with a slight tinge of Granny Smith apple in the Sancerre.  Most dramatic of all is the difference in texture: while the Whitehaven’s is sharp and crisp, the Sancerre’s is silky and smooth. 

If you do get a chance to try the two bottles discussed above, keep your reactions fresh in mind, because eventually we’ll add a California Sauvignon Blanc to the mix.