Savee Sea

Hello acid! Good for a hot day chill.

What: Savee Sea Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2022

Where: Your local Utah State liquor store.

How Much: $16 / bottle

Rating: 3 out of 5

Who’s It For: Someone looking for a simple, refreshing summer wine.

Review: Well played, New Zealand.

The first sip of this wine was a green apple slap to the face that had my mouth watering, and taste buds dancing. Don’t let its pale yellow color decieve you—this is an acidic monster in the best possible way, which is to be expected from arguably the world’s leading Sauvignon Blanc producer, jolly old New Zealand.

On the nose, I get “cat pee on an underripe pineapple.” Don’t let the classic Sauvignon Blanc scent turn you off. This wine is good.

On the palate, I get green apple acid, young pineapple, and passion fruit. The flavors are subtle enough to vanish on the finish, leaving a refreshing memory in their wake, and a question — should I have another sip? Yes, yes you should.

One of my favorite things about this wine is its mouth feel. It completes the experience. Despite the wine’s watered-down yellow color, a sip of it coats the mouth like 1% milk more than H-2-0. It’s a nice counterbalance to the wine’s otherwise light character.

As for food, I had this with pimento stuffed queen olives. The acidic olives tempered the wine’s acidy, resutling in a pleasant fruitiness you wouldn’t otherwise get.

I’d pair this wine with a big ole’ salad. Greens, olive oil, cheese, tomatoes. Yeah.

Overall, this is a refreshing wine that’s perfect for a hot summer day.