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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
