The Story
The Overlake Sauvignon Blanc 2018 is a $4.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive, produced by the Nice Wine Company from vineyards in the Lake County AVA of Northern California. There actually was a Nice Wine Company, it was located in the town of Nice and they had been making wine for Trader Joe’s since at least 2009, the wine was 6 bucks then. In 2018, Shannon Ridge purchased the Nice Wine Company, I don’t know if that will affect future Overlake Wines for Trader Joe’s.
Lake County is just north of Napa Valley. There is a large lake and a mountain dominating the grape growing areas and have significant climate effects on the vineyards. Most of Lake Counties vineyards are planted at fairly high altitude, 1,000 feet+, which helps keep the pests that bedevil the vines at bay. The Overlake Sauvignon Blanc 2018 is a young wine, meaning that it is produced with fairly simple production techniques and undergoes little aging. It is intended to be consumed young, these wines are at their best in the first two years of release and really, the sooner you drink them the better. The Lake County AVA has a wine history that goes back 140 years and is known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. The alcohol content is a ripe 13.9%.
The Tasting Notes
The color is, well, kind of clear, just a hint of butter yellow. The nose is pretty and perfumed, loads of ripe, peach, pear, apple, lemon, lime, grapefruit and spring flowers. This Sauv Blanc has a full mouthfeel, with solid acidity, this is no wishy-washy 5 buck wine. It tastes of melon, lemon, and grapefruit, slightly sweet, but this isn’t a sweet wine, then ripe peach. The mid-palate offers dried apricot, a little cream, that grassy sensation that is so prominent in New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and a touch of spice. The acidity is solid, it will pair will with food, but I think it does it’s best as a patio sipper. The finish starts off strong then fades.
The Summary
- Young wines need not be expensive, they are a thing, a particular style. Bright, fruit-forward, good acidity and with Sauvignon Blanc, when done right, they are summer-time in a bottle
- The Overlake Sauvignon Blanc is a $4.99 wine, but if asked, your guests will never guess five bucks.
- This is a well-made, tasty wine that costs 5 bucks, need I say more?
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