Review: NV Steenberg Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc
Here’s a twist: Take sauvignon blanc and fizz it up so that it sparkles like Champagne. That’s the M.O. of South Africa’s Steenberg, which has crafted a no-frills bottling that is best enjoyed in these dying days of summer.
Let’s start with the fruit, which is substantial here: Boldly tropical with notes of pineapple and mangosteen, with a slight bent toward lemon custard. There’s a grassy, herbaceous note here, but it’s a bit lost beneath an exceptional level of sweetness. Heavy on the fizz, almost foamy at first, it’s a wine best consumed ice cold; as it warms the experience becomes a bit overly acidic and thin.
B- / $18 / steenbergfarm.com