($13): One of the great things I love about judging at wine competitions is the opportunity to taste wines blind that I might not otherwise run across.  And often, the surprises are extremely pleasant, as in this case, with a wine in the under $14 category of Sauvignon Blanc at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.   It has the Goldilocks balance of bite, pungency and grapefruit-like nuances.  Refreshing, it’s a good choice for spiced Asian cuisine or as a foil for steamed clams.
88 Michael Apstein Feb 3, 2015