Jean Leon Terrasola Sauvignon Blanc 2010
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After emigrating to America, Jean Leon found his way to Hollywood, where he opened one of the most famous restaurants there, La Scala. As a member of the Hollywood community, the patrons he attracted were the great names of the silver screen. Then, by chance, when he was on holiday on the Catalonian coast, he saw a vineyard for sale in the Penedes. He bought the land, took a crash course in enology back in California, and began to replant his property with high-quality French varieties. The first harvest came in 1969, and since then, the Jean Leon wines have been extremely successful. Current holdings include 395 acres in the Penedes, and all the wines are estate bottled.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
The highest wine growing zone in Spanish Cataluña, Terra Alta is south of Priorat and Montsant. Here growers are following the trends of Priorat, recovering Garnacha blanca vines for white wines and focusing on quality red blends.