Nepenthe Vineyards Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2000

"Lovely, tailored, ripe and harmonious," are the best words to describe the 2000 Nepenthe Sauvignon. Indeed, the 2000 Nepenthe Sauvignon Blanc is no grassy, unripe acid bomb of a Sauvignon Blanc, yet it is no flabby, fruity mess, either. It shows pure ripe tropical fruit throughout, with interesting citrus and floral notes. This Adelaide Hills beauty underscores the benefit of high altitude plantings in the lovely, rolling hills of South Australia. Here the fruit ripens slowly in the cooler autumn months, which allows the retention of the intense fruit flavors for which the best Sauvignon Blanc is known. Barrel fermentation for a percentage of the wine adds subliminal notes to the length and complexity of the finished wine, without the brazen flavor of new oak. Intense but balanced, the fruit, herbal notes and firm structure of the Nepenthe fit like a handcrafted garment. Serve this work of art moderately chilled.

Given its balanced, extroverted nature, the 2000 Nepenthe Sauvignon Blanc promises to be a versatile wine. Certainly, the usual Sauvignon Blanc menu of seafood and assorted "fruits de mer" applies to the Nepenthe, but we wouldn't stop there. Rich poultry dishes, Pasta Primavera, and even more exotic fare like steamed artichokes with a marscarpone fondue make wonderful accompaniments to the Nepenthe. We also think crispy, Thai chicken wings, with lemon grass, garlic and Tamari dipping sauce provide a suitable partner to the Nepenthe, so have a party and enjoy!

Throughout many of the premium vineyards of South Australia you'll find large signs which read "Nepenthe Viticulture". That's because Nepenthe is widely known as the premier cool-climate viticultural management company in South Australia. From this base of high quality viticulture, the Tweddell family, the owners of Nepenthe, formed their own winery and crafted the Nepenthe estate. In the past decade, Nepenthe wines have made a huge splash in the premium cool-climate Australian wine scene. The word "nepenthe" comes from ancient Greek. It was used as a medicinal term that meant "elixir that heals all pain and grief". Nepenthe was founded by Ed Tweddell in the early 1980's to fulfill his dream of owning some of the highest quality vineyards in South Australia. In the mid-1990's, Ed's son James became the general manager of the viticultural company, and the Tweddell family decided to create its own brand from their estate. In 1997, the family was able to recruit Peter Leske, an instructor at Roseworthy and one of the most highly regarded winemakers in Australia. Presently, Nepenthe is found on the top wine lists in all of Australia's major cities. Nepenthe is located in the Lenswood area of the Adelaide Hills, one of the premier cool-climate wine regions in Australia. The vineyards are on beautiful, wooded rolling terrain that is only a 40-minute drive from the center of Adelaide. With an altitude above 1,200 feet, plentiful rainfall and deep, well-drained soils, the vineyards are ideal for cool-climate varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.