French chemists, in their analysis of a 1995 Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux, identified the presence of a compound called 3-mercapto-3-methylbutan-1-ol. This substance is a natural breakdown product found in grapes. Interestingly, the same chemical compound also serves as a fragrant pheromone in cat urine.
This specific aroma characteristic is not uncommon in Sauvignon Blanc wines. Among wine critics, its presence is not always considered a negative trait. Highlighting this distinct scent, one New Zealand winery even named a particular bottling “Cat’s Pee on a Gooseberry Bush.”