The TJ’s Petit Reserve Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2016 is a $7.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive produced from grapes grown in 3 vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA inside the Columbia Valley AVA in eastern Washington State. Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve label occurs when they get offered a limited supply of a wine from a premier appellation. A typical Horse Heaven Hills Sauv Blanc will usually sell in the $12 to $15 range (and up). As a 2016 vintage wine, this Sauvignon Blanc is probably fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks to give the wine a bright, crisp flavor profile. The alcohol content 13.4%.
The color is pale wheat yellow with a touch of green. The nose is slightly subdued (for a Sauv Blanc, it would be fairly bold for most other wines), there are pears, limes, peach, apple, lemon zest, grapefruit, and magnolia. This wine as a very pleasing mouthfeel, silky smooth with just a hint of bite from the citrus flavors. It starts with apple and Bosc pear, then grapefruit with lime. The mid-palate adds melon, peach and a slightly creamy sensation, followed by orange peel and a little salt. This has a nicely complex flavor profile for a ten buck wine. The acidity is well-balanced and the finish is full and long.
The TJ’s Petit Reserve Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2016 is a very tasty wine. I can’t remember having another Sauvignon Blanc from Washington State, much less Horse Heaven Hills and I am nicely surprised at the top quality of the wine. Slightly pulled back from the big, bold Sauv Blanc from New Zealand and not as bright and sunny as Sauvignon Blanc from southern France, it hits a really nice spot somewhere in the middle. If you like the Petit Reserve, buy a few bottles now, because when it is gone, it’s gone for good.
