Errazuriz Late Harvest Sauvignon

Summer means flowers to me; it means barbeques and bike rides and vacation. Also inseparable from any of my images of summer: chilled white wine. I can't wait for the warm weekends to arrive, when I can spend a few lovely hours in the back yard, with a book and a glass of cool wine. And even though I do love reds with dinner, there's something about sitting in the garden that requires a sweet white; a wine that reminds me of jasmine and honeybees, that refreshes and relaxes.

Recently I discovered a wine I feel is perfect for these long backyard afternoons, from the Chilean winery ViÃ±a Errazuriz: their 2004 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc.

Late harvest wines are made from grapes left on the vine longer than normal (hence the name). They tend to be sweeter, and are often considered dessert wines. A favorite of mine has always been Hogue's Late Harvest Riesling. While visiting some friends in Portland, we stopped in a small wine shop and I saw the Errazuriz Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc for $11.99; the shop owner assured me that as a late-harvest fan, I wouldn't be disappointed by this wine.

He was right. While this is definitely a dessert wine, and therefore much sweeter than many people prefer, it's wonderful chilled and sipped from a small brandy glass. Flavors of citrus and honey emerge immediately, with a little hint of peach underneath. There's even a little spicy touch that hits you as it glides past the tongue. It's a lovely experience. You want to take your time with this wine, let every drop talk to your tastebuds; it's a little too rich to have more than one glass, but at the end of the day, it'll make a summer evening a little sweeter.