INSIDER'S PICK: 2020 ELIZABETH SPENCER SAUVIGNON BLANC NORTH COAST $16.99

Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.

If we keep saying this is a wine for the last dog days of Summer, we have to be right eventually, don't we? If ever we had a 'no brainer' white wine in the Californian section, it would be this. Founders and husband/wife duo Spencer Graham and Elizabeth Pressler were an integral part of the Charlottesville wine scene in the 80s and early 90s before moving out to Napa and starting this winery in the heart of Rutherford. This Sauvignon Blanc has always been a favorite not only as a great value but one that showcases the oft-forgotten quality of fruit from Mendocino County. Consistently cooler climate to the more tourist driven Napa and Sonoma areas gives their wines some extra nerve, and this serves it up year after year. Fresh citrus and green apple tones on the nose, light of intensity but still giving a tingling of minerality if you sniff deeply enough, much less tropical that found in many other areas of California and completely absent of oak. The palate hints a little bit towards the Loire style of Sauvignon Blanc with the brightness and quenching tartness, but fattens up with white fruit tones that get juicier with each sip and gets more melon and pear into the finish. A great pairing with seafood and Summer salads, for however long they may last this year.

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