Wine reviewer Mark Henderson samples some sauvignon blanc.
At the recent International Sauvignon Blanc Celebration in Marlborough there was an impassioned plea from two senior overseas wine commentators (Englishman Oz Clark and American Matt Kramer) which in the simplest terms was "If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it''.
They argued that New Zealand sauvignon blanc has built its reputation on a bright, zingy, gooseberry and grassy style that winemakers are now tinkering with.
There is certainly a place for diversity; but, importantly, when winemakers can clearly differentiate this fact to the consumer.
Price: $19.99
Rating: Very Good to Excellent
Ripe and attractive nose with passionfruit and red capsicum: a hint of boiled sweets later. The palate brings in more of the zestier elements on a backdrop of tropical fruit, red capsicum and ripe gooseberry.
This has a creamy texture and completely fills the mouth; the acid finely balanced, with a fresh, zingy, appealing finish.
Price: $24.99
Rating: Excellent
Smoky, fragrant, lemony citrus and lemongrass open the rather attractive nose (perhaps a whisper of Semillon blended in here?). Green bean, citrus, apple and cut grass/herbaceous notes create lots of interest on the zingy palate. A nice mix of flavours and complexity add appeal.
Different in style but very enjoyable.
Price: $19.99
Rating: Good to Very Good
Notes of bread yeast, canned asparagus and feijoa on the nose. Quite intense and complex flavours of apple, cut grass, gooseberry and bramble on the palate.Marked acidity lends a tart citrusy element on the finish which provides a sweet and sour counterpoint to the fruit on the palate.
Crisp and bracing.
Price: $18.99
Rating: Very Good to Excellent
Fragrant, lifted nose with gooseberry, spice and capsicum. Gooseberry again to the fore on the palate with grassy notes. Fresh and bright: clean and linear in the mouth.This really improves with aeration, showing nice ripeness and length of finish.
A classic example with wide appeal.
Price: $22.99
Rating: Good to Very Good
Classic cut grass and gooseberry on the nose. Zingy entry: again in the grassy, gooseberry spectrum with a honeyed tropical fruit undercurrent. Clean and bright with bracing acidity: a little four square perhaps but appealing drinking.
Just a little short on the finish.
Price: $20.99
Rating: Good
Sweetly fragrant nose with passionfruit and canned peas at first, a whiff of gunsmoke evolving with aeration. Spicy entry, vinous, with brambly, grassy touches: those grassy notes building over time.
Bracing acidity here, leading to a slightly firm, grippy finish.
Price: $13.99
Rating: Good
Subtle nose: some tropical fruit notes leading on to capsicum and cut grass. A lighter style with vinosity rather than overt fruit: a sweeter element hinting at gooseberry and grassy notes with nicely judged acidity keeping things fresh; citrus on the slightly bracing finish.
Clean, fresh, and easy drinking.
Price: $16.99
Rating: Very Good
Gunsmoke, flint, canned peas, cut grass and lemongrass on the nose. Delicate on the palate with smoke and citrus giving way to ripe gooseberry and a honeyed undercurrent. Crisp acidity gives a slightly chalky grip mid palate.
This fattens up with aeration offering tasty drinking in a slightly more developed style.
