Anyone who has tasted a group of sauvignon blancs has probably written the word green 15 times on their tasting sheet. (I certainly have).
But it’s clearly ridiculous to use the single word green to cover a huge range (and quality) of wines. So, when it comes to sauvignon blanc, what does green really mean?
Here is the world of green for me:
Green Idea What One Might Smell or Taste in the Wine
Green fruits Green fig, honeydew melon
Bitter green Arugula, green tea
Exotic green Lemongrass, lime leaf
Smoky green Lapsang Souchong tea
Citrusy green Lime pith, grapefruit pith
Green vegetables Snap peas, lettuce, green beans
Green herbs Sage, thyme, mint
Green spice Green peppercorns
Piquant green Jalapeño peppers
Green outdoors Mown grass, meadows
Oceanic green Seaweed, sea spray, briny salt water
Cool green If emerald were a flavor….