The 2010 Climber Sauvignon Blanc is 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 12% Riesling, 7% Viognier and 1% Muscat Blanc sourced from organic and sustainable vineyards (though this is not a certified organic wine) in Mendocino and other Central Coast AVA’s. In California, if one grape varietal comprises 75% of the grapes used in the bottle, they can show that grape as the varietal on the label and not call the wine a blend. The Climber is the non Estate grown wine label for Clif Family Winery. There does not seem to be a Clif involved with the winery, the owners and founders are Kit Crawford and Gary Erickson, who started the Clif Bar Co. The wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks and this is a fairly small production wine, only 3,000 cases were produced. The alcohol content is a relatively stout 14.1%.
The color is a clear and shiny sunshine yellow. The nose is melon and tropical fruit drizzled with honey. This has bold flavors with a tart citrus edge. It tastes of honeydew melon, unsweetened pineapple juice, a bit of lemon chiffon and papaya. The mid palate brings bright, crisp lime and a slight slap of minerality. The acidity is well balanced, this Sauvignon Blanc will pair well with food and be quite refreshing on a hot summer’s day. The finish is full, but fades quickly, though a faint echo does hang on for a decent length of time.
With 20% of the grapes in the bottle something other than Sauvignon Blanc, there are flavors in the glass you do not normally get with a Sauv Blanc, but I am fine with that since the Climber tastes great. This Sauvignon Blanc would pair well with fancy salads and shrimp cooked on the grill with Caribbean spices. The Climber is bright, fresh, flavorful wine, a little taste of summer in a bottle.
