Pundits often decry sauvignon blanc for its simple fruity flavours and crisp acidity, which is just what makes it so attractive to most of us. However, a few stand out for their unexpected complexity and delicious balance. Others vary in style from aggressive to dilute, or from sweetish to lean.
Woven Stone Ohau Sauvignon Blanc 2011, $17
three and a half stars (out of five)
average value
An attractive, zesty wine from the Kapiti Coast with hints of ripe passionfruit and honeydew melon, nicely balanced by a crisp, lively finish.
Richmond Plains Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2011, $20
four stars (out of five)
good value
Mouthfilling fruit suggesting melon, golden kiwifruit and freshly mown grass, with a mineral undertone and a well-balanced, crisp finish.
four stars (out of five)
average value
Deliciously aromatic with lovely ripe passionfruit overtones and an underlying minerality, mouthfilling and long, balanced by a crisp, lively finish.
four stars (out of five)
average value
Oodles of mouthfilling ripe fruit - mandarin, grapefruit, mango, melon, textural with a mineral undertone and balanced by a long zesty finish.
five stars (out of five)
good value
A wonderfully pungent wine, floral, herbal, grassy and complex, well structured with rich, mouthfilling fruit, a lingering aftertaste and a harmonious, crisp, dry, minerally finish.
five stars (out of five)
good value
Aromatic with hints of grassy olive oil, mandarin and honeydew melon, complex flavours and a silky texture, but what makes this wine stand out is its balance, harmony and persistence that catches you unawares on the delicious aftertaste. It certainly rewards a little extra attention.
ANOTHER GLASS
Soho Stella Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011, $23
three stars (out of five)
below average value
A stylishly packaged wine, fragrant with hints of passionfruit and capsicum and a crisp, zingy finish.
Murdoch James Blue Rock Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010, $20
three and a half stars (out of five)
average value
At two years old, this is mouthfilling with hints of tinned asparagus, melon and gooseberries, an underlying minerality and a crisp finish. Drinking nicely now, it shows how sauvignon develops and changes with age.
Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011, $20
three and a half stars (out of five)
average value
A wine for those who don't like assertive sauvignons, this is attractively floral with hints of elderflower, currant leaf and mineral with a crisp finish.
Te Mania Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2011, $19
three stars (out of five)
A leaner style, grassy, with hints of gooseberry and mineral and a very crisp, zesty finish.
