Sauvignon blanc, with its vibrant fruit and crisp acidity, is
a good aperitif. It sharpens the
appetite and goes particularly well with nibbles such as
seafood, cheese, and vegetable dips and spreads like hummus
or pesto.
BEST UNDER $20
Lil' Rippa Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010
$19
Four stars (out of five)
Good value
A lively wine with a hint of mineral and creamy nuttiness but
the vibrant sauvignon fruit hinting of peach and melon shines
through. Nicely balanced and not too assertive with a long
finish. Drinking nicely now but not for long keeping.
www.shoestringwines.com
BEST VALUE
Mahi Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010
$20
Four stars
Good value
A delicious wine, more about texture and harmony than overt
fruit, although there is certainly lovely melon fruit here,
along with a hint of mineral, a creamy, nutty undertone and a
crisp, well-balanced finish. Good with food.
www.mahiwine.co.nz
Spinyback Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2010
$16
Three stars
Average value
Fragrant with hints of passionfruit, this is zesty with
suggestions of gooseberries and mineral
and has a lively, crisp finish. An easy wine for those who
don't like assertive sauvignons.
www.waimeabrands.com
Clos Marguerite Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010
$26
Four stars
Average value
A delicious, lively wine from Jean-Charles Van Hove and
Marguerite Dubois who have a close planted vineyard in the
Awatere. It is fragrant with hints of ripe cantaloupe melon,
red
capsicum and passionfruit with mineral undertones,
mouthfilling intensity and a long, crisp finish.
www.closmarguerite.co.nz
Brancott Estate Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
2011
$26
Four stars
Average value
The first of the 2011 wines to turn up for tasting, this is
pungent with oodles of lush passionfruit and melon, a hint of
mineral lovely intensity and a crisp, zesty finish. All you
want in an assertive young sauvignon.
www.brancottestate.com
Dog Point Section 94 2009
$33
Five stars
Good value
One of the handful of wonderful Marlborough sauvignons that
step outside the usual mold, this has been barrel-fermented
with wild yeast to produce a pungent, textural wine, fragrant
and flavoursome with exotic fruit, savoury undertones, with a
beautifully balanced, vibrant finish. Perhaps the best
Section 94 so far.
www.dogpoint.co.nz
ANOTHER GLASS
Vidal Reserve Hawkes Bay Organic Sauvignon Blanc
2010
$23
Three and a half stars
Average value
Vidal's new reserve series of wines with grey labels is made
with food in mind. This is taut with restrained fruit, hints
of herbs and melon, a slight nuttiness from lees ageing in
old oak, and a balanced, zingy finish.
www.vidal.co.nz
Clos Marguerite Aged on Lees Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
2009
$28
Four stars
Average value
At two years old this lees-aged sauvignon hints of tinned
peas and mineral, and is richly textural and mouthfilling
with savoury undertones and a crisp, balanced finish. A good
example of a mature sauvignon blanc that will probably
continue to develop for another year or two.
www.closmarugerite.co.nz
Ti Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010
$23
Three and a half stars
Average value
A suggestion of mineral reminiscent of drops of water on hot
river stones, and bright fruit hinting of gooseberries,
citrus and herbs, make for a zesty, mouthfilling wine with a
crisp intensity and firm, textural finish.
www.tipoint.co.nz
Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate
preconceptions, all wine tasting and evaluation is
subjective. These are personal recommendations. charmian.smith@odt.co.nz
Two stars - simple, clean, enjoyable wine; three stars - good
wine with varietal characteristics; four stars - very good
wine with some outstanding characteristics; five stars -
outstanding wine with balance and harmony that leaves you
with a sense of wonder.
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