Fre Alcohol Removed Sauvignon Blanc

Fre Alcohol Removed Sauvignon Blanc is a California white that starts life as conventional Sauvignon Blanc and has its alcohol taken out afterward. It is labeled at 0.5% ABV, so it is a dealcoholized wine rather than a grape juice or a sparkling soft drink. Sauvignon Blanc is naturally high in acidity, and that is the reason it holds up well after dealcoholization. The tartness is a large part of the structure, so expect a crisp, lean white built on citrus and green fruit, as the producer describes it. In California Sauvignon Blanc, that usually means grapefruit, lime, and lemon peel alongside green apple, gooseberry, or freshly cut grass. Removing alcohol takes away some weight and length from the palate. Bottles like this tend to be light-bodied, with a shorter finish than a standard 12 to 13 percent Sauvignon Blanc. Tannin is not a factor in a white wine like this, and oak is unlikely to play a role, since this style is made for freshness rather than richness. Because acidity does the structural work, the flavor tends to be bright and direct, and it is best judged cold, when the citrus edge is sharpest. Serve it well chilled, around 40 to 45°F (4 to 7°C), which is a couple of hours in the refrigerator or about 30 minutes in an ice bucket. Warmth makes dealcoholized wines taste thin and slightly sweet, so a cold pour is the better choice. There is no reason to decant it. A standard white wine glass with a medium bowl and a slightly narrowed rim will gather the citrus and herbal aromas without letting them fade. Once opened, reseal and refrigerate, and plan to finish it within a few days, as the aromatics fade faster than they do in a wine with alcohol. At the table, it suits the same dishes that suit a classic Sauvignon Blanc. Goat cheese salads, grilled asparagus, and fresh herb sauces such as pesto or chimichurri echo its green notes. Shellfish, ceviche, and simple white fish with lemon are natural partners for the acidity. It also stands up to Thai and Vietnamese dishes where lime and cilantro are prominent. This is a drink-now bottle. Dealcoholized wines have no structure built for cellaring, so buy it for near-term drinking and check the bottle for any best-by date.