News & Reviews

The Missoulian
Winter is a time of robust flavors and hearty foods. We tend to gravitate to those rich sauces, heavy meats and earthy root vegetables, and often choose lush, deep red wines to accompany them. So it was a bit of a shock to my system the other day as I sat down with Sean Minor, winemaker and owner of 4 Bears Winery, to sample his Sauvignon Blanc. Let me tell you, this glass of snappy white wine was just what I needed to lift my spirits on a very gray and gloomy wintry day. Furthermore, it was the ideal accompaniment to a bowl of warm, creamy and comforting sweet potato soup that was helping to take the edge off the cold weather.

Who says white wines are not for winter? This 4 Bears 2005 Sauvignon Blanc hit the spot. Normally I don’t react this strongly to Sauvignon Blanc, but this one just kept drawing me back to the glass time and again.

Made of 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc grapes from Dry Creek Valley, California, the fruit was pressed and placed in stainless steel tanks for fermentation. However, a small portion of the juice was separated out for barrel fermentation and sur lie aging, meaning it sat in the barrel and was held in contact with the yeast sediment and grape particles (lees), to produce a more complex wine, giving it added freshness and creaminess. The barrel wine was then added to the steel-fermented wine after a proper amount of aging to create balance.




The final blend results in a delicious, vivid wine with pronounced aromas of citrus, lemon, grapefruit, nectarine, tropical fruit and white melon, rounded out by a just a hint of mineral. On the palate, the wine is fresh and lively without being aggressive. You will experience flavors of citrus, melon, figs, quince and apples with a captivating minerality and lemon creme finish that makes it well-balanced and very easy to enjoy.

This wine is ready to drink now, especially if you are looking for a “pick me up.” However, at only $12 a bottle, it would behoove you to pick up several bottles to keep on hand to carry you into spring and summer, as this is a perfect wine for all your entertaining needs and not too tough on your wallet. This wine will pair with a lot of different foods, but try it tonight with a creamy saffron and seafood risotto or Cajun grilled shrimp. It would also be lovely with warm winter chowders, bisques or bouillabaisse. You can find this wine at CVS, Grizzly Grocery, Grizzly Liquor, Pattee Creek Market and Rattlesnake Gardens. Or you can try it by the glass at Finn & Porter with some fresh-shucked oysters.

One last piece of advice: Don’t drink this wine too cold, or its richness will be masked. When you open this wine up after pulling it out of the fridge, let it sit on the counter for a bit to warm up. Better yet, bring it with you when you plunk down in front of the fire to stay warm in this bitter winter weather.

Stay warm and happy drinking.

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