The day I tasted this delicious sextet of wines followed a succession of warm days. The summer heat had built up in the house and it seemed such an opportune time to be tasting Sauvignon Blanc. That evening, I sat down on the deck, revelling in the warmth, the gentle hubbub of neighbourhood activity (lawn mowing, kids playing etc) in the background, and thought, what a great time for a glass of SB. Bright, fresh, full of flavour and quite uplifting at the end of a busy day. Hope that these work their magic on you? 2023 Saint Clair Pioneer Block 2 Swamp Block Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $33 Rating Very Good to Excellent Starts off vibrantly pungent, settling with aeration. Wisps of gooseberry shift to cut grass, sweat & pea pod, hints of fruit jube join in later. Supple in the mouth echoing the characters on the nose adding candied lime & lemon influences while fresh acidity keeps this vibrant. A long finish of ripe gooseberry. Classically styled and raring to be poured into your glass. www.saintclair.co.nz 2023 Astrolabe Province Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $28 Rating Excellent Waves of perfume, florality and talc part to release the raft of green herbs and gooseberry. The palate is deceptively weighty, filling the mouth, yet not at all heavy, effortless and complex. Again the green herbs & gooseberry to the fore yet extra layers of ripe nectarine and tropical fruit remind you how nicely composed this is. Wonderful length, begging to be enjoyed now. www.astrolabewines.co.nz 2023 Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $27.95 Rating Excellent Subtle at first, growing in pungency as it opens with smoke, brambly touches, spice and passionfruit. A touch of fruit pastille sweetness leads, sweetly ripe fruit adding a tropical tinge with classic cut grass underlay. Take your time with this, as there’s lots going on, garnering real zestiness as it opens out. Does it well. www.yealands.co.nz 2023 Riverby Estate Single Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $22 Rating Excellent to Outstanding Fascinating nose, moving from passionfuit to tamarillo, to smoke, to licorice with hints of sweat. The palate captures your attention with greengage plum, cut grass, herbs and a hint of wine gums, a combination of richness yet juiciness, developing a little musky element. Great flavour intensity, lovely balance and a refreshingly long, zesty close. www.riverbyestate.com 2023 Saint Clair Pioneer Block 25 Point Five Block Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $33 Rating Excellent No mistaking the variety, real generosity to the aromas of cut grass, gooseberry and sweat. Almost a cool feel to this, fresh, vibrant and racy, echoes the notes on the nose. Attractively dry, building appealing textural richness, swelling as it opens, carrying the flavours neatly through the palate. Delightfully refreshing and zesty on the finish, so much to enjoy here. www.saintclair.co.nz 2023 Yealands Estate Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $20.49 Rating Excellent to Outstanding Brambly, smoky, almost a touch of nettle, the fruit evolving to some ripe tropical influences underpinned by hay and grass. Another bright entry with racy acidity, citrus, a touch of sweat, great flavour intensity that draws you back for more. Fresh, vital, a vibrantly long and dry close with grassiness to the fore. A lip-smacking quality that really hits the ‘‘yum’’ factor. www.yealands.co.nz
