Le Petit Coquerel Sauvignon Blanc

Among the better Sauv Blancs from California! Zippy high acidity on the palate to compliment the guava nose. Brilliantly eye-opening and refreshing.

Grapefruit, lemon candy, Granny Smith Apple, peach, tangerine and hints of lime. Electric acidity and great minerality.

Dense, dry and minerally with minor, well integrated citrus notes.

Yellow Apple and pear. Lemon, white flowers. M+ acid. M body. Bitter on the front palate. Short finish but balanced.

It's easy to understand why Coquerel calls Sauvignon Blanc its flagship varietal—clearly the result of excellent fruit quality combined with the sheer talent of Bordeaux-born winemaker, Christine Barbe. The 2012 Le Petit Coquerel boasts a vibrant nose of gooseberries and lime zest, punctuated by spicy undertones reminiscent of juniper berries and white pepper. Lovely on the palate, and texturally quite round, with pithy layers of white grapefruit and star fruit. Herbaceous at the close with a long, lingering finish.

I was looking through my samples stash to find a wine that might pair with shrimp and I found the 2012 Coquerel Wines Le Petit Coquerel Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, from the same producer as the petite sirah I recently reviewed. Le Petit Coquerel is the winery's line of everyday wines. The fruit for this wine comes from the estate vineyard in Calistoga and an organic vineyard in Yountville. The grapes are fermented and aged in stainless steel, sur lie, for seven months. This is definitely a warm-climate Sauvignon Blanc, with dominant flavors of sweet tropical fruits like melon and papaya. The sur lie aging adds richness and weight to the palate. My only wish for this wine would be a longer finish. $22 direct from the winery. 90 points Wine Enthusiast. (sample)

Christine Barbe is the winemaker at Coquerel and she brings years of experience with her, having worked at both Château Carbonnieux and La Louvière in Pessac-Léognan. Her deft handling of this crisp and enchanting white shows—the 2013 Le Petit Coquerel is artfully imbued with bruised pear, cucumber and lemongrass notes. Refreshing and bright, with racy acidity cradled in star fruit, crushed shell and fleur de sel notes. Sur Lies aging adds weight and texture to this poised Calistoga Verdeleho. 13.5% ABV | Sample

Rich and very citrusy- mandarin oranges and vanilla creme. Refreshing acidity. 2012

It would be tough to call this Napa blind. Tart, grassy, bell peppery with mod alc and plenty of acid.

Clear straw color. Aromas of lemongrass, grapefruit and lemon heads. Flavors of nectarine, peach and a slight acidic finish.