Rodney Strong Charlotte's Home Northern Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc 2016

There's absolutely nothing wrong with jammy wines, but I like to look for the purity more than the quantity of fruit. The Rodney Strong Charlotte's Home Northern Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc 2016 ($18) delivers clean, luminous flavors from the get-go. And how 'bout that honeysuckle nose? This super-smooth wine boasts an array of fruit, primarily melon and tropical notes, and more purity on the near endless finish. Bonus points for the seamless texture and bountiful body on this beauty. Rich but refined, this California white will play well with seafood ranging from shellfish to salmon, as well as fresh summer salads with protein and/or fruit.

Available at Thomas, Surdyk's, Hennepin Lake, Haskell's, Eden Prairie and Edina munis, others.

Bill Ward