Channing Daughters Winery 2008 Mudd Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

By Lenn Thompson, Editor and Publisher

I've said it a million times and I'll say it again -- there is little doubt that sauvignon blanc is the white-wine future of Long Island. And, year after year, a unique regional is emerging -- one with bright citrus fruit, accented by herbs that are less overwhelming than wines from New Zealand, and minerality that is less intense perhaps than Sancerre. And, unlike sauvignon from the left coast, the wines are focused and well balanced by refreshing acidity.

These are generalizations, of course, but it's an emerging style and I'm just trying to position it within other generalized styles from other regions.

Chris Tracy, winemaker at Channing Daughters Winery, does beautiful things with white wines, so it comes as no surprise that he's leading the pack in the develpoment of that signature style for Long Island sauvignon blanc.

He makes two versions, including this Channing Daughters Winery 2008 Mudd Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ($20), which is almost entirely sauvignon blanc with 3% Musque clone chardonnay blended in. All of the fruit was grown in Steve Mudd's vineyard on the North Fork of Long Island.

Bottled in late February, it's a pale straw yellow and shows clean aromas of grapefruit, lemon, honedew, citrus blossom and the sea.

The medium-bodied palate is very lively with acidity and shows focused citrus and melon flavors up front that become minerally and herbal as you taste and swallow each sip. I don't each much seafood, but it's hard to imagine a better wine to enjoy with local shellfish this summer. Or, and this is something I do eat, fresh goat cheese.

Grape(s): 97% sauvignon blanc, 3% chardonnay
Producer: Channing Daughters Winery
AVA: North Fork of Long Island
ABV: 12%
Price: $20
Rating: (3 out of 5 | Recommended) 
(Ratings Guide)

Comments

[Evan Dawson]

Two questions.

1) Why not 100% Sauv Blanc? Just curious.

2) Following Taste Camp East, I thought the group idea was that more LI wineries needed to follow Paumanok's lead and plant Chenin Blanc. Could CB battle SB for LI white supremacy at some point? I'm picturing an epic 15-round fight in which you're the chick who holds the round cards and Jackson and I do play-by-play.

[Lenn Thompson]

1) I'll let Chris answer if he sees this. But there IS a whole lot of chardonnay around.

2) I don't see CB overtaking SB, but it's possible. Other than Paumanok, NO ONE is growing CB btw.

[winelabelreview]

I prefer this label's color combination. The image looks as though the edge is torn, (not sure if it is or not), but if it is, that would be a nice touch. I've always liked the Channing Daughters clean modern look.

[Evan Dawson]

For Lenndevours readers who might be unfamiliar, I'd certainly recommend checking out Wine Label Review. Very slick site with nice insight, and we hope they'll be hanging around here over the coming weeks...

[Tom]

I tasted this wine in April and felt as though the wine was a bit off balance with the alcohol. I'm not sure what the bottle said it was (14+?), but it seemed a little off kilter for many typical sauv blanc food pairings. Any thoughts on this Lenn?

[Lenn Thompson]

14% ABV? The bottle says 12% (at least that's what my notes say). I didn't find it unbalanced at all.

Are you sure it was the 08?

[Tom]

Yup. He was on the panel of this years winemaker conference showcasing Sauv Blanc's from NY.

Plus, you can't always trust the label. ;-)

See what kind of legs it throws. That should tell you pretty quick.

[Lenn Thompson]

Tom: You're right, you can't trust labels, but it's all that I have to go on (plus or minus 1.5%!)

Will definitely have to drink this wine again.

[R. Olsen-Harbich]

With all due respect, if CB is going to be a factor here on L.I. there needs to be more than a few acres planted. I don't even think we've pushed the envelope on Sauvignon Blanc yet as most vines are still fairly young but its clear to me that SB is the most exciting white variety on eastern Long Island. I think it's as good a match or better with our terroir as Riesling is in the Finger Lakes.