Of course, viticulturists and winemakers need to be nimble to deal with whatever vagaries Mother Nature throws at them.
Early tastings are showing some wines that don’t quite have the richness and depth of a great vintage, but nevertheless offer typically zesty, appealing drinking even in their youth.
They may well fatten up in bottle over the summer too!
2021 Misha’s Vineyard The Starlet Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc
Price RRP $32
Rating Very Good to Excellent
An explosion of
flavour, powerful feijoa
and passionfruit
qualities, sweat and
grassiness. Softer,
more supple mouthfeel
than the nose might
suggest. Wine gums,
licorice, ripe
gooseberry with a
chalky element adding
to the textural interest.
Hits some different
buttons. With aeration,
the nose picks up a
brambly nuance as the
palate weight grows.
2022 Riverby Estate Single Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Price RRP $22
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Sweetly fragrant,
initially tropically
fruited with ripe
banana and gummy
bear, an undercurrent
of gooseberry and cut
grass becomes more
evident. A sense of
roundness at first
before the acidity kicks
in. Gooseberry, wisps
of tobacco, even a
touch of citrus as it
opens up before a
whisper of sweetness/
sweet fruit frames the
finish.
2022 Rapaura Springs Bull Paddock Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Price RRP $27.90
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Pungent nose of
passionfruit and
sweat, a little lanolin/
wet wool too. Bold and
engaging with an
appealing creamy
texture on entry. The
passionfruit notes
carry on to the palate,
gooseberry, a light
brambly touch. Nice
balance and carry of
flavours on the finish.
Grows in depth and
power with aeration.
2022 Rapaura Springs Rohe-Rapuara Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Price RRP $24.90
Rating Excellent
Attractively, typically
fragrant nose with cut
grass, gooseberry,
sweat, a little fruit
pastille with aeration.
Again, a creamy, silky
texture, citrus, lime
cordial, grassy/
brambly elements
shifting to the tropical
fruit spectrum.
Develops some lovely
zestiness and
appealing chewiness
to the palate. A
classicism to this with
a long finish.
2022 Rapaura Springs Rohe-Dillons Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Price RRP $20
Rating Excellent
This one takes me off
on a tangent,
gooseberry crumble,
citrus, hints of schisty
minerality, biscuit
dough, wine gums.
Fresh and vibrant, a
tingly quality to this
giving a lip-smacking
salivatory aspect.
Excellent flavour
intensity and balance
adding hints of orange
zest, which brings a
bittersweet touch to the
close. Rather nice.
2022 Rapaura Springs Rohe-Blind River Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Price RRP $24.90
Rating Excellent to Outstanding
Initially a subtle nose, the
characters unfurling.
Spice, baguette,
stonefruit edging
tropical, a grassy touch.
Power and weight,
supple, rich yet a line of
racy acidity keeps this
poised. Sweet fruit to the
fore, citrus,
confectionery, stony
minerality threaded
through the palate with
hints of chalky phenolics.
Delightful balance, a
long, lip-smacking, fruit-filled finish.
