Wine reviews: Sauvignon Blanc

The new 2014 sauvignon blancs are coming on to the market and those in this tasting are delicious, ripe and mouth-filling with a lively fresh finish. Let's hope it's indicative of the vintage in general.

 

BEST VALUE

Brancott Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014

$17

Four stars (out of five)

Good value

This wine marking the World of Wearable Arts is fragrant with hints of melon, coriander seed and cape gooseberry, mouth-filling with a complex mineral backbone and a fresh, tingly finish.

brancottestate.com

 

 

 

 

Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014

$17

Four stars

Good value

A flavoursome wine with hints of ripe cape gooseberry, golden kiwi, fresh guava, a good dollop of citrus, and a lively crisp, dry finish.

stoneleigh.co.nz

 

 

 

 

Brancott Estate Special Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014

$20

Four stars (out of five)

Good value

Fragrant, floral notes and pungent hints of capsicum, concentrated and mouth-filling with suggestions of guava, melon, herbs and mineral, and a lively, textural finish

brancottestate.com 

 

 

 

 

Sacred Hill Halo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014

$25

Three and a half stars 

Average value

A fresh, vibrant Marlborough sauvignon, all apples, passionfruit, gooseberries and yellow capsicum, with a suggestion of dusty gravel and an assertive, steely shaft of acidity on the finish.

sacredhill.com 

 

 

 

 

Ata Rangi Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2013

$27

Four and a half stars

Good value

At a year old, this stylish wine is deliciously concentrated with suggestions of melon, golden peach and crisp apple, hints of smokiness and mineral, and a well balanced, textural, crisp, lingering aftertaste. A food-friendly wine that will continue to develop for another year or two.

atarangi.co.nz 

 

 

 

 

Pegasus Bay Waipara Sauvignon Semillon 2012

$29

Four stars 

Average value

Hints of ripe melon, kiwi and herbs with just tinges of funkiness and nuttiness, mouth-filling with a lively, fresh, dry finish. A food-friendly wine.

pegasusbay.com

 

ANOTHER GLASS

St Clair Vicar's Choice Bright Light Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014

$19.50

Three stars 

Below average value

I have to admit to not being a fan of trendy low alcohol wines. Apart from some rieslings, they usually lack fruit and flavour. This, at 9.5%, hints of herbs, gravel and gooseberries with a hint f citrus, light appley flavours, a slight sweetness and a very crisp, steely, dry finish.

saintclair.co.nz


Church Road McDonald Series Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Gris 2012

$27

Three and a half stars

Below average value 

Sauvignon gris with lightly pink skins is a relative of the more assertive sauvignon blanc. This oozes peaches, melon, cape gooseberry and mineral, with a light nuttiness and a crisp peacock's ail of a finish.

Churchroad.co.nz

 

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