“It’s a pure expression of Napa Sauvignon Blanc at its highest level

Written by Bob Paulinski, Master of Wine

2014 Honig Sauvignon Blanc – Napa Valley

Keeping things simple isn’t necessarily easy to do! For example, consider Honig Sauvignon Blanc. For many, it’s the benchmark for its type in Napa. The wine highlights a zesty, herbal, citrusy note backed by a bright acidity that forms the backbone of the wine. It’s crystal clear that the raw fruit quality is pristine based on the expressive character of the wine. The wine isn’t doctored up with all sorts of wine making alchemy. Instead, the pure natural character of the fruit is allowed to shine through without any malolactic or overt use of oak. It’s a pure expression of Napa Sauvignon Blanc at its highest level. And unlike the prevailing business trend, Honig is still a family owned winery. They’re actively involved in the business, it’s a real hands on, old school approach to business. They also only make Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. That’s it! There’s no following the fads. Keep it simple and do it well is the mantra. There’s no appeal in trying to be all things to all people. It’s nice to see that wines still exist that are made by people that have the courage to not change.

The guy that I work with at Honig is Michael Honig! He’s been an active contributor to the success of the winery for more than 30 years. He’s described himself as “the James Brown of the wine industry”. He seems to be everywhere, so he might just be the “the hardest working man in the wine world!” The winery is also well known for its eco-friendly wine making places. Michael assisted in writing the Wine Institute of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices. They’re also one of the first wineries to earn the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing certification. It’s a nice story, good people, a family owned and operated business, focused on doing a few things right.

Here at BevMo, we’re currently selling the 2014, the 2015 will soon follow. I tried both, the wines are very consistent from year to year. Someone at the Wine Spectator magazine must have liked the 2014. It received a score of “89”, along with a “Smart Buy” call out. At under $20, it’s an awesome value. It’s one of the best wines you could choose to match with fried zucchini blossoms or grilled asparagus. It’s also very good with any light, flaky fish or sautéed scallops, grilled shrimp or mussels in a saffron broth.