Ray Isle ( @islewine on Twitter ) is Food & Wine's executive wine editor. We trust his every cork pop and decant – and the man can sniff out a bargain to boot. Take it away, Ray. Ah, Sauvignon Blanc. It’s zesty, it’s crisp, it’s loaded with citrusy zing, it whets the appetite and it tastes great served cold on a hot day. And, once in a while, it smells like a green pepper exploded in your glass. Those aromas—shading from cut grass to green pepper to jalapeno—come from the presence in the wine of naturally occurring compounds called methoxypyrazines, which tend to be more present in cooler climate and/or underripe Sauvignons. (The specific compound is 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine, an excellent conversation-stopper for your next cocktail party.) Now some people, unsurprisingly, don’t like wines that smell of green peppers, and, honestly, most winemakers don’t like them either. But a certain amount of grassy greenness does give Sauvignon its allure for some folks. In the end, here’s my advice: If you like the peppery intensity that Sauvignon Blanc can have, head toward cooler climate regions, like New Zealand, South Africa’s Cape area and France’s Loire Valley. If you don’t like it, stick to warmer climates—Napa Valley would be a classic example. Oh, and that cat-pee aroma people sometimes find in Sauvignon Blanc? That’s mercapto-4-methyl-4-pentan-2-one. As any self-respecting tomcat will be happy to tell you. A good, not-green-at-all Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Franciscan Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($17) Mellow lemon-citrus and melon notes are the focus here; it’s appealingly crisp but definitely not on the peppery side.   A good, lightly grassy Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Geyser Peak California Sauvignon Blanc ($13) Mostly from cooler coastal California vineyards, this is very impressive for the price—an ideal balance of zesty grapefruit with very light, freshly cut grass notes.   A good, quite peppery Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Graywacke Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($19) Kevin Judd, proprietor of Graywacke, was the winemaker for 25 years at Cloudy Bay, the iconic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc producer. The third vintage from his solo project is terrific: intense passion fruit flavors, and there’s no mistaking that classic New Zealand peppery bite. More from Food & Wine America's Best Bars Best $15-and-Under Wines 15 Rules for Great Wine and Food Pairings Best Steak in the U.S. Memorial Day Party Recipes

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Snap into a Sauvignon Blanc

The Crown case in the trial of Nat Fraser, who is accused of murdering his wife Arlene, finishes.

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Prosecution ends Nat Fraser case

Some body parts retained by police in Northern Ireland were disposed of “without the consent or knowledge” of their families, according to the justice minister.

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‘No assent’ to destroy body parts

Lana Kuykendall has been fully conscious for all but a few days of her not-yet-3-week-old twins' lives. And after seven surgeries thus far to tackle a rare flesh-eating bacteria, the South Carolina mother's family realizes all too well that she “still has a long road ahead.”

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Mom with rare bug has 7 surgeries

Chelsea manager and transfer news, Liverpool and Aston Villa manager updates, England v West Indies, plus more.

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Sportsday – breaking sports news

Now, yet more evidence that children’s health is in dire need of attention: A new study released today shows that almost a quarter of teens have diabetes or prediabetes. Almost a quarter. That’s up from 9 percent a decade ago, according to a study in the June 2012 issue of Pediatrics, published online today. Read full article > >

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Nearly a quarter of teens diabetic or prediabetic, report says

The Olympic torch had to be re-lit after it blew out while being carried by wheelchair user David Follett.

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VIDEO: Torch blows out during Devon relay

Northern Italy was shaken by an aftershock Monday morning, a day after a magnitude-6.0 quake killed at least seven people and left thousands of survivors huddling in tents or cars overnight.

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Italy hit by back-to-back quakes

A French prosecutor orders an initial inquiry into claims that ex-IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn was involved in a “gang rape” in Washington.

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Strauss-Kahn faces new rape case

Three days before Egypt’s presidential elections, a combination of high stakes, suspense and confusion has made for a heady atmosphere.

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Cairo Journal: In Streets and Online, Campaign Fever in Egypt

At least two people were killed in Beirut in heavy clashes early on Monday between rival Sunni Muslim gunmen, the latest violence fueled by tensions over the uprising in neighboring Syria.

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Two Killed in Heavy Clashes in Beirut

A royalist County Durham teashop owner throws three women out after they refuse to stand for the national anthem.

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Trio thrown out of royal tearoom

A royalist County Durham teashop owner throws three women out after they refuse to stand for the national anthem.

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Trio thrown out of royal tearoom

Three customers in a Country Durham tearoom have been thrown out for refusing to stand during the national anthem.

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AUDIO: Refusing to stand for Royal tea

Three customers in a Country Durham tearoom have been thrown out for refusing to stand during the national anthem.

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AUDIO: Refusing to stand for Royal tea