The Bear Bros Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is a $7.99 ALDI exclusive made for them by a large family-owned winery based in Monterey, California. The origin of the grapes on the label says California, which means the Central Coast AVA and/or the North Coast AVA or Central Valley AVA.
ALDI sells several wines made by this winery; Google “wineries in Greenfield, California,” and you will figure it out. That winery typically has a webpage about their ALDI wines with some decent technical details concerning the wine. But Bear Bros’ brand name is owned by ALDI, so no info is available.
ALDI seems to own the brand name of their core wines, so they can change suppliers at some point if conditions change. The Bear Bros Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is a young wine designed to be consumed within the first year of release. They will last a few years if they are well kept, but drinking them sooner rather than later is always the best plan.
It is hard to say too much concerning this Sauvignon Blanc since most technical procedures are unknown. And this is what store brand wines are all about. With known wineries and brand wines, you know what to expect with their wines. They usually are consistent year in and year out.
So, store brands such as ALDI or Trader Joe’s are a gamble, especially with wines in their first vintage, like the Bear Bros Sauvignon Blanc 2020. But on the flip side, the price is almost always right. If this is a bright, fruit-forward, crisp White wine, then it is a bargain. If it isn’t, then at least you did not spend too much money. The alcohol content is 13.5%.
Bear Bros Sauvignon Blanc 2020 Tasting Notes
The color is pale wheat yellow with a hint of green. The nose is classic Sauv Blanc, citrus, tropical fruit and grassy, lemon, pineapple, melon, and slightly creamy. The Bear Bros Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is a medium-weight wine with some heft to the flavors.
It starts with dried pear, grapefruit, and spice, then peach, followed by lemon curd. The mid-palate is interesting; it has that salty, nutty “on lees” thing and extracted, intense tangerine, followed by more spice and lychee. The acidity is solid; it does not bite and lets the flavors unfold.
The Summary
- The Bear Bros Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is an interesting wine that is well worth drinking.
- It had an unexpected complexity. It may not be my favorite value-priced Sauvignon Blanc, but I am glad that I gave this wine a try.
