Sauvignon Blanc on a Summer Evening

Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon is one of my go-to's. It's a great value wine and also one of my favorites to drink on a Friday night, bring to a party, or give as a gift. Even though I am a fan of Decoy, I actually haven't tried any of the other wines. Since the weather has been pretty warm recently, which also means a good time for chilled drinks, I grabbed a bottle of the Sauvignon Blanc instead.

One interesting fact I recently learned about Sauvignon Blanc is that the wine is hardly ever aged in oak, with winemakers preferring to exhibit the bright and fruity characteristics of the grape. (But undoubtedly, there are also great oaked Sauvignon Blancs out there.) The Decoy Sauvignon Blanc is also unoaked and was aged exclusively in stainless steel.

My tasting notes on the 2018 Decoy Sauvignon Blanc ($20):

• See: Light lemon color with a greenish tint

• Swirl: Mellow legs

• Sniff: There are notes of green apple, grapefruit, peach and garden herbs

• Sip: The thing that surprised me was the high acidity - the first sip gave my tastebuds a little punch. It's very citrus-forward with lemon, grapefruit, and kiwi with notes of peach. There are also hints of herbs and grassiness

• Savor: The wine is bright, crisp, and not too complex with subdued sweetness. It has a clean finish and is well-balanced. I split this wine over two nights and surprisingly, I found it more enjoyable on the second night - it was easier to drink with slightly toned down acidity (or maybe I just knew what to expect). Overall, it's a very drinkable wine and it would pair wonderfully with oysters, which I have been craving so badly since my first sip of this wine