Monday, March 17, 2014

Buttonwood 2010 Zingy Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Ynez Valley

Buttonwood Farms Winery & Vineyard is a sustainably farmed gem in the midst of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley. Their flagship white is Sauvignon Blanc, which they produce in three styles.
We visited with winemaker Karen Steinwachs a couple years ago during our Santa Barbara trip. Green Dragon is a Sauvignon fiend, so she was in heaven tasting three different styles.
Each year the most aromatic and the purest essence of Sauvignon Blanc from the Buttonwood vineyard is selected for the Zingy label. We purchased this bottle at the tasting room and Green Dragon cracked it open recently.
She is a fan of the New Zealand style of Sauvignon Blanc, and that means she likes hers with zesty flavor and plenty of acidity. The Zingy outshines many California Sauvignon Blanc in those areas.
Just today I came across a descriptor that seems to fit. Zingy is nerveaux. What in blazes is that you might ask? Nerveaux is a French word meaning nervous, energetic and vigorous. That seems to capture the freshness and zing of this wine – plus, it’s cool.
Zingy is golden with green highlights. The wine has citrus notes with a taste that recalls a sea breeze.There is minerality and a liberal dose of acidity followed by a nice ending with lemon and pineapple.
This is a small production wine with only 403 cases produced. The cost was a super-reasonable $18 – almost a steal. Buttonwood also produces Devin, which is a Sauvignon Blanc – Semillon blend. Devin has a very different flavor profile, one that is full bodied and smooth.
All of Buttonwood’s wines deserve a taste. An ideal starting point is the nerveaux Zingy!
Rating: 3.5 of 5  Value: 4.5 of 5
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