Clark Estate Clericus Wild Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $35 Classic barrel fermented, wild-fermented style here, stacked with smoked passionfruit, bruised basil, toasty marzipan notes, soft pepper and lemongrass layers. Named for the most noble and intellectuals in Roman society, this is definitely the thinking persons’ sauvignon. www.clarkestate.com
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Ash Ridge Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Ash Ridge Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $21 Lemon, lime notes on the nose and palate, they’re edged with seashell minerality and expect some marzipan and toasty notes from the 85% barrel fermentation as well. It could do with more generosity and freshness in the mid palate however. www.ashridgewines.co.nz
Ashwell Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Ashwell Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $20 Bright and bursting with citrus and nectarine notes in every sip. Add to that elderflower, lemon blossom and a lick of lemongrass and you get extra deliciousness on the nose and palate. This little bit of Martinborough magic is intensely fresh on the palate, with zesty acidity, good astringency, … Read More
Hunter’s Kāho Roa Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $23.90 (4.5 stars)
Hunter’s Kāho Roa Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $23.90 Sourced from the clay-rich soils of their Omaka vineyard, the fruit for this sauvignon was crushed and the cloudy, high-solids juice poured directly into old French oak puncheons for a wild yeast (spontaneous) fermentation. The wine was then aged on its lees for 6 months before bottling, … Read More
Rock Ferry 3rd Rock Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $27.90 (4 stars)
Certified organic and oozing tropical fruit from every drop, this is a generously proportioned, punchy, passionfruit-saturated sauvignon that has lovely depth of flavour. It has a hefty herbaceous undercurrent and a long, creamy texture on the finish. Darn tasty to drink. www.greatlittlevineyards.com
Mister Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $18 (3.5 stars)
Looking for a little bit of lipsmacking lime and lemongrass in a glass? Well you’ve come to the right place. Hawke’s Bay sauvignon blanc has all that classic tropical, peach and passionfruit character that you know and love, but this Rod McDonald creation also delivers extra generosity and citrus concentration on the finish. It’s snappy-fresh … Read More
Gladstone Vineyard Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $19 (3.5 stars)
Lemongrass alert! This organically grown sauvignon absolutely heaves with citrus blossom and herbaceousness, buckets of preserved lemon, passionfruit and showing a dry, zesty, mineral-heavy mid-palate. It’s not a fruit bomb, it’s an elegant, lean, complex style. www.gladstonevineyard.co.nz
Urlar Select Parcels Gladstone Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $29 (5 stars)
This is an absolutely stunning example of a softly, beautifully balanced, barrel fermented style that’s organically and biodynamically produced. I love that it has aromas of fresh pollen, subtle lime, marzipan and lemongrass rather than the traditional passionfruit and cats pee. Deliciously textural and showing soft herbaceousness, nutty notes and a layer of freshy-baled hay-like … Read More
Mount Brown Barrique Ferment Waipara Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $19 (3.5 stars)
Here’s a sauvignon blanc for chardonnay fans. Roasty, toasty and tropically taut and crisp, it’s bursting with smoked passionfruit punchiness and a lick of lemongrass on the finish. A very drinkable, in fact dangerously drinkable example. www.mountbrown.co.nz
Mount Brown Waipara Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $16 (3.5 stars)
There’s something about the North Canterbury soils and the drying, Nor’west winds that create incredibly floral, super-concentrated sauvignon blanc. Lime, lemongrass, elderflower and bruised basil combine with passionfruit and tropical tones, cut grass and sweet pea combine with crunchy acidity to make a zesty, sexy sip indeed. www.mountbrown.co.nz