Product: Could You Please Pass the Ceviche? The Sauvignon Blanc That Is...: 2002 Ceviche Sauvignon Blanc Producer: Vin de Cuisine Approximate Retail Value: $12 Category: Wine Country of Origin: USA/California Reviewer: SexHerald Staff The F Words: Flavor – Tropical fruits including lime, mango and pineapple. Feel – Drink it on the beach with a swordfish taco or a lobster roll Finish – Clean, crisp and fresh

Rating:

At the end of the summer season, I was invited to a beach outing in--not the Hamptons--Queens. Queens actually has a wonderful beach area known as Belle Harbor, in the Far Rockaway section of the borough, not too far from the Irish Riviera known as Breezy Point. Needing a hospitable gift for my hosts, I searched the cooler of a local wine and spirits shop. My keen wine eyes found an incredible California sauvignon blanc amongst a sea of average Chardonnays.

In the culinary world, ceviche is a refreshing seafood dish from South America that is quite popular in various urban eateries throughout the globe. This lovely white wine captures the exuberant freshness of the food dish in the form of an incredible sauvignon blanc. While some Napa Valley sauvignon blanc's seem like a pumped-up Chardonnay, the Ceviche stays lean and focused, much like the champion cyclist, Lance Armstrong. The nose has the lime and citrus aromas of its namesake, complemented by other tropical fruits such as mango and pineapple.

Another notable aspect about the wine is its artistic label, akin to a Bonny Doone Vineyard label, that depicts a string of colorful fish hanging vertically. The bottle is a very impressive aesthetic for your newly arrived dinner party guests. The folks at Vin de Cuisine in Grafton, California clearly put some serious thought into the design of their minimalist, but catchy, label for this wine.

This is the perfect wine for seafood and other fish dishes. Also, it goes well with goat cheese and salads. For that matter, feel free to serve the Ceviche Sauvignon Blanc as an aperitif or just to relax with at the end of a long, hard day. Pretty floral aromas lead to nice, ripe pear fruit. This is an easy sauvignon blanc that epitomizes the Napa Valley bearing of its fruit. My recommendation is to go long and buy, buy, buy. You will truly enjoy this wonderful California white.