Beringer: Domestic sauvignon blanc that tastes like an import

Beringer Sauvignon Blanc (2004)
Origin: California (Napa Valley)
Price: $14

Truth be told, I received this bottle as a gift quite some time ago and it's taken me a while to get to it. In general, I'm rather skeptical of sauvignon blancs from California, probably because time and time again I've found the foreign ones to be so much more dynamic. But I guess I can say that I feel the same way about domestic and foreign cars. Seriously though, New Zealand usually cranks out sauvignon blancs that exude lively citrus notes, while the California ones tend to be more bland.

However, I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised with this domestic selection. Beringer tastes almost like a hybrid of New Zealand sauvignon blanc and Argentinian torrontés. It has fresh herbal and perfumey aromas -- the citrus, jasmine and honeysuckle are easy to distinguish. I can't get over the abundance of grapefruit, lime and lemongrass flavors that burst in your mouth. There's even a bit of green pepper on the finish, much like you would get with a torrontés. Way to go, Beringer.