Wine of the week: Local expert helps you pick your next sip

2006 ST. SUPERY VIRTU, NAPA VALLEY WHITE MERITAGE, CALIFORNIA $30

THE FLAVOR

With the holidays approaching, you might be starting to test out some wines for guests and holiday occasions. This wine is a true treat that should not be overlooked. It is a blend of sauvignon blanc for crispness and semillon for floral soft fruit. This can be a tricky balance, but our friends at St. Supery have done a perfect job. The nose is filled with warm summer fruits, especially ripe white peach and melon notes that you can almost taste. The flavors coat the mouth and linger, waves of ripe red grapefruit and fig notes balanced by the taste of honeysuckle and nectarine. The finish has a slight honey characteristic balanced with a vanilla creme lemon note. The soft flavors weave together to produce a great tasting experience.

FOOD PAIRINGS

This wine's diverse flavors can go with many different holiday or everyday meal ideas. It would be a perfect match for Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas duck, allowing the rich flavors in the meats to complement the soft fruit notes in the glass. It also would work well with crab or lobster, drawing out the sauvignon blanc characteristic. If you are looking for an alternative to chardonnay for the table, this would be agreat choice.

BEHIND THE SCENES

St. Supery was started in 1982, and consistently has produced world-class wines. It is well known for award-winning wines crafted primarily from Napa Valley sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon, as well as its Limited Edition single estate vineyard and blended Meritage wines.

Lain Bradford of Beaufort is a wine writer and reviewer who has achieved his first level master sommelier certificate and is working toward his Certified Wine Educator degree. He only writes about wines that are available in South Carolina and Georgia