We continue Our Top 10 Lists for the year with Sauvignon Blanc - perhaps the hardest of all the categories to pick..We hope you enjoy the list and look forward to your feedback. Look out next week for Pinot Gris, or Chardonnay, or maybe Syrah...mmmm. Mouth starting to water aaaarrrrggghhhhhh. Must. Focus. On. Writing. Next. Article.
Tupari Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Glenn Thomas, winemaker for Tupari (and an Aussie!) has well and truly cracked the code of Sauvignon Blanc (he has with Pinot Gris as well, but that's another newsletter). We first tried the 2009 last year in our Sauvignon Blanc Masterclasses and it stood as an absolute highlight - we think the 2010 is better again. A single vineyard wine that has been left on it's lees for 7 months to enhance a creamy palate, but without taking away any of it's natural vibrancy. Look for a palate of concentrated white peach and citrus flavours and a distinct mineral quality. The long and creamy palate finishes with a refreshing acidity. 95pts Gourmet Traveller Wine, Double Gold 5 Nations Wine Challenge + many other accolades. Buy Now for $24.95 (recently dropped from $29.95)
Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Saint Clair make so many sauvignon blancs, all of them good, most of them excellent, 
but this one is simply outstanding. A selection of their best wines (only made in the best vintages) from their extensive blocks blended together to create what they consider to be the best Sauvignon Blanc they can make from their varied selection of quality fruit. The 2010 nose shows intensely concentrated aromas of grapefruit, boxwood, blackcurrant and passionfruit. This is an incredibly pungent Sauvignon Blanc with powerful passionfruit, grapefruit, blackcurrant and an underlying mineral note. The palate is intensely concentrated and full with a long, lingering finish. A true connoisseurs Sauvignon Blanc available now for $31.95
Urlar Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010
We love this wine not just because of it's flavour, but because it is so unique - Organic, not from Marlborough, and made with a small portion of juice having barrel contact. This has resulted in a wonderfully textural wine that displays the trademark Martinborough acid and minerality, with some mid-palate 'fatness', or what we know as texture or mouthfeel. The pungency is toned down a little as well, replaced with zesty citrus characters of grapefruit and hints of passionfruit. On our list, this wine is arguably the best food matching Sauvignon Blanc of them all. Silver, Decanter Wine Awards 2011 and 91 pts from Gary Walsh. On SALE NOW for just $20.95
Wither Hills 'Rarangi' Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Wither Hills made their name in Sauvignon Blanc - it's in their DNA, and all the wines
they make are quality examples. This single vineyard offering though is a clear step ahead of the rest (and for just $2-$3 more than their estate label). Stunning herbal nose mingles with gooseberry, citrus and other ripe fruits. A dry mineral palate full of ripe melon, tropical fruit layers, with intensity and texture is supported by an elegant and refined acidity. This Sauvignon Blanc is perfectly balanced. 93/100 Huon Hooke. Available now for just $19.95 - could easily have made our 'best buys' list below.
Spy Valley 'Envoy' Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009
This is one of a new generation of 'worked' styles of Sauvignon Blanc that we are starting to see more of out of NZ (others include Jackson Estate 'Grey Ghost', Dog Point Section 94 and Cloudy bay Te Koko). What we like about this one is that they haven't gone overboard with winemkaer influence - It is still a unique style, and quite different to your ordinary Marlborough Savvie, but very elegant in it's approach. The nose shows a mix of dried herb, ripe citrus and rich tropical fruits, with hints of oak and lees work adding complexity. The structure is fine and persistent with firm acid and a vibrant fruit base. Secondary barrel influences round out the palate. Drink Now-2013. 93/100 Bob Campbell MW. Buy Now for $34.95
Other wines that could easily have made our list and definitely worth a mention include the Villa Maria Reserve 2010, Isabel Estate 2010 and Dog Point 2010.
Top 5 Best Buys
Pebble Row Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Quite how a wine can be rated as fourth best Sauvignon Blanc in NZ by Cuisine Magazine and stay at $15.95 is beyond us. They note this as being the most Sancerre-like of the top wines in their January tasting. The nose shows white peach and zesty citrus notes. The palate is full flavoured with lingering passionfruit flavours and a refreshing finish. Soon to roll on to the 2011 vintage, so get in quick! Just $15.95 and available now.
Vavasour Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Sadly the 2010 has now sold out and we have rolled to 2011, but have no doubt it will be
just as good. 2011 was arguably a better vintage, and Vavasour's Estate Sauvignon Blanc from the Awatere Valley is consistently excellent year after year. The 2010 took out Winestate Magazine's Sauvignon Blanc of the Year, as well as trophy for best Sauvignon Blanc in a London competition. A serious, concentrated and expressive wine, Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc flaunts a powerful bouquet of fresh herbs and tropical fruits layered with ripe stone fruit and bright citrus. The wine is crisp, balanced and elegant with a distinctive mineral note that holds up well to rich, spicy foods. The 2011 is available now for just $15.95.
Vavasour 'The Pass' Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010
This is our best selling Sauvignon Blanc year after year. An alternative export label from Vavasour, the same quality thread runs through this wine, though this wine is perhaps a little sweeter, and tones down on the acid - What one might call a 'crowd-pleasing' style. It's a wine that's just really easy to enjoy, and we have met few who haven' t liked it. A blend of fruit from both the Awatere and Wairau Valley regions of Marlborough, The 2010 Pass shows zesty citrus and gooseberry notes on the nose. These flavours follow through to the richly structured palate, but with added tropical fruits showing through. Drink now - early 2012. Buy now for $14.95.
Villa Maria Private Bin Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011
We all know Villa, we all know they win a tonne of awards, and we all know that their 
wines typically punch above their weight in their chosen price points, but their PB savvie is particularly good value. The 2010 won a trophy and a Top 10 rating from Cuisine Magazine, and we have just gone to the 2011. This vibrant Sauvignon Blanc is bursting with a fruit-salad-bowl of flavours including ripe gooseberry, passionfruit, fresh citrus lime and exotic herbaceous aromas. The wine has an exciting palate with layers of juicy flavours, intensity and fullness, finishing with a refreshing crisp, clean and racy acidity. On Sale now for $14.95.
Vidal Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Another wine from the Villa Maria stable that hits the value mark year after year. We just tried the 2011 about 3 weeks agao and were impressed with the wine's concentration. This one is well and truly 'Classic Marlborough' - Aromas of passionfruit and citrus lead into a palate showing intense tropical fruit flavours. Drink now to early 2013. Buy now for $15.95.