Occasionally when I am at a bit of a loss to think of something to write about, I just check the calendar to see if there are any special wine days on the horizon.

May is possibly the most important month with Sauvignon Blanc Day on May 6, Moscato on May 9, Pinot Grigio on May 17, National Wine Day on May 25 and Chardonnay on May 26.

Let me prepare you for May 6 with two sauvignon blancs from France, two from California and two from New Zealand.

Our 2021 Henri Bourgeois Menetou-Salon Le Prieuré des Aublats is one of the reasons – just in case your French is a little rusty – why I always give you the stock number, which is 7773 in this case. The sauvignon blanc vines are grown on chalky clay slopes with southwestern exposure and the Menetou-Salon appellation is located in the Centre Val de Loire between Sancerre and Bourges. In the 15th century, Menetou-Salon wines adorned the finest tables in the country, including that of Jacques Coeur, Lord of Menetou in 1450 and close adviser to King Charles VII.

This is fresh and fruity, with a hint of spice and musk and it has aromas of citrus and flowers and a roundness in the mouth with peppery and minty notes. It finishes beautifully and offers you the chance to taste a wine from a family renowned for fine sancerre and pouilly fume. $29.90.

The Pascal Jolivet winery was founded in 1987. He adheres to the idea that the ideal wine virtually creates itself, therefore, intervention in the natural processes of vinification is minimised.

He says, “All my wines are sophisticated, elegant, with a clean flavour and taste. My winery has one paradox, which is that I use technologies that allow you to control the fermentation process, but they do not interfere with it. As a result, natural wines that are easy to drink.”

Let’s try his 2020 Attitude Sauvignon Blanc. On the palate it captures the tone of gooseberry and a light herbal mix, which are complemented by a touch of honey. Citrus fruits, fresh kiwi and green apples are there, and the finish is full of mineral nuances. A fine aperitif or enjoy with goat cheese, asparagus, and seafood. $25.50 (Stock #7804).

Sometimes in California a winery will call their sauvignon blanc “fumé blanc”. This grape can exhibit a touch of smokiness, hence fumé blanc in the Loire and fumé blanc in California. The winery that gives us 2021 Dry Creek Vineyards Fumé Blanc tells us the following:

“Since 1972, we have produced fumé blanc – a wine at the heart and soul of our family winery. Modelled after the classic wines from the Loire Valley in France, our stainless steel fermented fumé blanc is crisp, balanced and immediately drinkable. This fumé blanc emanates the classic Dry Creek Vineyard “house” style of sauvignon blanc. Aromatics of lemon, lime and grapefruit leap forward from the glass with both fruit and floral nuances of nectarine, peach, jasmine and orange blossom. On the palate, the wine is intense and bright with passion fruit, tangerine and cucumber. Underlying minerality and hints of lemon grass, parsley and mango contribute to this wine’s refreshing, crisp finish.”

The Wine Spectator magazine backs this up with 90/100 and this: “This wine consistently over delivers on its price point, providing a lively, bright and light style of stainless-steel fermented delight. Celebrating its 50th vintage in 2021, it offers a refreshing core of melon, wet stone and lemon-lime zest that honours its Loire Valley inspiration.” $25.50 (Stock #6506).

Rodney Strong established their heritage sauvignon blanc vineyard in 1971, naming it Charlotte's Home in honour of his wife who loved to just sit there and observe Mother Nature. Today it remains the core of their Charlotte's Home sauvignon blanc, along with other select vineyards in the Alexander Valley as well as the Russian River Valley. Together, the two valleys make a classic Sonoma County sauvignon blanc that is fresh and lively.

The 2020 Rodney Strong Charlotte’s Home Sauvignon Blanc is full, crisp, and highly aromatic, the warmer climate Alexander Valley fruit gives the wine ripe pear and melon character, while the ocean-cooled Russian River fruit offers citrus, mineral, and traditional herbaceous qualities. This is another 90 pointer, according to the Wine Enthusiast publication. $25.95 (Stock #6452).

Of course, we have to stop by New Zealand and discuss two very popular versions of this wine. Let’s see what noted Canadian Natalie Maclean has to say about 2021 Auntsfield Single Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc: “Auntsfield 2021 Sauvignon Blanc is produced from sustainably grown grapes from a single vineyard. Intense and mouth-watering on the palate, this Marlborough SB is a mouthful of passion fruit, wild flowers, lime leaf and rock melon flavours with a juicy long finish. Drink or hold. 92/100. Sauvignon blanc food pairings: oriental chicken salad with yoghurt and citrus dressing, grilled lemon herb chicken breast, roast duck breast on sliced poached pears.” $23 (Stock #7968).

Just because you have been among the most asked for sauvignon blanc in the world for many years, you cannot just sit back and take it for granted. Our 2022 Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc perfectly captures the distinct and elegant style of this region. They very carefully manage each step from vineyard to bottle to ensure that the quality of the fruit is preserved. This wine is crisp, elegant, refreshing with tropical fruit and pronounced aromatics. Critic James Suckling scores it 90 points and writes, “A pure nose of guava, gooseberries, lime and a grassy character. Fresh and bright with high-toned acidity in a textured palate with a mouthwatering finish.” $24.60 (Stock #6900).

There you have it, a six-pack for May 6. Please enjoy this grape that not only is one of the most planted on our planet, but that also teamed up with cabernet franc a few hundred years ago and had a baby that now commands first place overall – cabernet sauvignon. Amazing what our offspring can do!

This column is an advertorial for Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. Michael Robinson can be contacted at mrobinson@bll.bm. Burrows Lightbourn have stores in Hamilton (Front Street East, 295-1554) and Paget (Harbour Road, 236-0355). A selection of their wines, beers and spirits is available at www.wineonline.bm