Te Aro Wine Co Toil and Trouble Hawke’s Bay Pét Nat 2018 $27.50 Created by Jules Van Costello (owner of Cult Wines and Te Aro Wines) from sauvignon blanc sourced from the Bridge Pa sub-region (with a teensy splash of Marlborough sauvignon blanc to kickstart the ferment, this is a hyper fizzy, crown-sealed firecracker to … Read More
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Main Divide North Canterbury Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Main Divide North Canterbury Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $20.99 Get on your skateboard, segway or scooter and shimmy on over to the Main Divide North Canterbury Sauvignon Blanc 2018 ($20.99) to pour with any sort of pan-fried pesce perfection. Crisp, crunchy, packed with citrus and huge herbaceous notes, this wine is superb to sip with fresh fish. … Read More
Amisfield Central Otago Fumé Blanc 2016
Amisfield Central Otago Fumé Blanc 2016 $45 When people say ‘fumé blanc is sauvignon for chardonnay lovers’, they’re absolutely right. Winemaker Dr Stephanie Lambert and her team have taken what must have been rather snappy sauvignon blanc fruit and opted to ferment it using wild yeasts, in large French oak barrels. This in turn has given … Read More
Nautilus The Paper Nautilus Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Nautilus The Paper Nautilus Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $35 I’m a huge fan of this style of sauvignon blanc. I love that a ‘paper nautilus’ is only released when the fruit is exceptional (and 2016 was a rip roarer of a vintage) and I love that it’s been fermented in just one, single, old French … Read More
Osawa Flying Sheep Limited Release Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Osawa Flying Sheep Limited Release Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2014 $35 Sealed under cork, this vintage is still holding solid acidity and freshness and tropical tones, yet the positively demure 11%alc kind of makes the wine feel a little meh and mediocre in the mid-palate. It’s ok but not great and for $35 I’d be … Read More
Giesen Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Giesen Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014v While I’m pretty sure the 2018 is out in the market now, there’s still a fair bit of the 2017 lurking around, so I thought I’d taste it again. While the aromas are quite attractive (think bruised basil, capsicum, passionfruit, peach) – the palate is all a bit meh. There’s … Read More
Catalina Sounds Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Catalina Sounds Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $24 Passionfruit. check. Lime. Check. Crushed herbs. Check. Cut grass and capsicum. Check. Spark and personality? Hmmm not so much. I was expecting a punch in the face, but got a flick from a damp teatowel instead. It’s an ok drink, but for $24 it’s lacking pungency and … Read More
39°Below Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018
39°Below Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $17.95 So fresh, frisky, vibrant and packed solid with lemongrass, basil, sweet lemon verbena notes, this wine also boasts buckets of passionfruit and nectarine on the nose and palate. It’s a ripe and rumpty sauvignon blanc that’s so friendly and feisty, it’ll please even the fussiest sauvignon snob. Paul McEvoy … Read More
Pencarrow Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Pencarrow Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $12.99 (Advintage.co.nz) Classic herbaceous nose, bruised basil and bouquet garni notes merge with lemon pith and passionfruity flavours, juicy citrus and lashings of cut grass goodness on the palate. Suitably squinty acidity adds length to the finish. It’s a crowd-pleaser. www.palliser.co.nz
Peregrine Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Peregrine Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $27 Brand new from the quite frankly, unfairly talented team at Peregrine, comes this elegantly structured yet rock solid sauvignon blanc that’s stacked with citrus, capsicum, fennel and white pepper on the nose. Prepare your palate for passionfruit, lemon and lime leaf notes. and a super-fresh and frisky finish. Great … Read More