Groth Oakcross

Groth Oakcross is a Sauvignon Blanc from Massachusetts, which makes it a cool-climate American white. Grown in a region like this, Sauvignon Blanc usually keeps its acidity high, so expect a crisp, bright wine. Typical flavors for the grape are grapefruit, lime, green apple and gooseberry, often with cut grass or a light herbal edge. The body should be light to medium, and the finish clean and fairly short. The name suggests some oak influence. The details we have don't say how the wine was made, so check the label or ask staff about it. If oak is involved, expect a slightly rounder texture and faint toast or vanilla. If it isn't, the wine will likely taste leaner and more citrus-driven. Sauvignon Blanc has little tannin in either case. Cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc goes well with foods that match its acidity. Goat cheese, fresh chèvre salads, oysters, steamed clams and grilled white fish are the classic partners. Dishes with fresh herbs or lemon also work, such as pesto pasta, asparagus, green-sauce chicken and sushi. Its acidity cuts through creamy sauces and fried seafood, which makes it a good fit for New England clam shack food. Serve it well chilled, around 45 to 50°F, which is about two hours in the refrigerator or thirty minutes in an ice bucket. Colder than that mutes the aroma, and warmer than that makes the wine taste flat. It doesn't need decanting. A standard white wine glass with a moderately narrow bowl will concentrate the citrus and herbal aromas. Wines in this style are usually made to drink within a few years of release, so treat it as a bottle to open soon rather than one to cellar.