Petrol dominates the nose and medium bodied palate.

Hints of capsicum on the lingering aftertaste. Worthy of a star for it's complexity but Tim Adams does Clare Valley riesling better than this and Saint Clair make MSB better than this so it's not getting one.

Not off me anyway.

I've always been confused by the acronyms on this site but I thought I twigged it that MSB meant Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Wrong again, seems it means Riesling

If you want tasting notes that bear no relation to the actual wine but instead wax lyrical about how the wine should taste then may I suggest M&S.

You'll find plenty of labels written by some of the world's finest fantasy writers.

However, the point of this site is to be more honest and not to mislead wine buyers.

So, if I come across a MSB that tastes of Aussie riesling instead of what you think MSB should taste of i'll say so.

Petrol

Oh yes.

Well, I deffo don't want petrol in my SB and I'm not keen on it in Riesling (but Riesling without it is indifferent)

I didn't realise that Vavasour (which I hadn't heard of before) is responsible for Goldwater, Clifford Bay and Dashwood (which I have heard of)

But the petrolly 2008 MSB was garlanded with prizes

2008 Vavasour Awatere Valley
Sauvignon Blanc

Trophy for Best Dry White Table Wine - Sauvignon Blanc, Premium Classes

We are pleased to announce that we have received this Trophy Award at the 2009 Vintage Cellars National Wine Show of Australia. This year, there were 1,280 entries from 190 wineries around Australia and New Zealand.

Gold Medal – Liquorland Top 100 International Wine Show 2008

5 Stars – Winestate Magazine Regional Tasting 2008

5 Stars – Cuisine Magazine Sauvignon Tasting January 2009

Swords or pistols at dawn ???

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

The problem with awards for sauvignon these days is that more and more are being awarded to atypical wines.

The number of awards for the 08 Vavasour just increase the possibilty that it really does taste of riesling.

Oaked chardonnay impersonators are the most commen winners of trinkets.

That said, old style sauvs are fighting back as the 09 vintage of Montana's basic won 2 golds including one at the Air NZ awards.

The judges probably couldn't remember what the taste was and gave it a gold thinking it was something new and wonderful.

U gotta point there

Trubble bubble - I wont the '09 Vavasour Awatere MSB, cos it's so far up my bleeding street, that I'll pass the crossings at the 1st junction.

Well, that's wot I think, and it aint no fantasy - Sez me. We shall C. You don't tho Mr Goose, predicted too full and fleshy for you mate

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Duncan

Utter bollocks - Clifford Bay is Villa Maria, their Reserve range, matured in their cellars with the back label and silver V over M.

Hey Mr P, have another pop, I notice you you take a shot at every rabbit on the bank


Dunc ducks for cover .

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Duncan

Being serious for a mo., there is an excellent tasting parameter here. Some Riesling I love, not the huge ones, and not the twweee ones, but in between. I also love some SB, not the hot spicy SA efforts and not the wimpy Loire efforts, but in between. I go with Gosling on this, there is an overlap. Petrol, tomato, whatever, but whatever, do your own thing and do not believe that you are "right".

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

I think NZ SB producers are increasingly aware they risk becoming victims of their own success. They fear the 'ABSB- anything but SB', and decent producers are keeping one eye on the amount of sub-standard NZSB leaving their shores (or not, if the current glut is factored in).

Good producers will continue to swim against the tide and look for a new 'edge'. Occasionally that may mean they’re influenced by other key grape characteristics, such as SB with a hint of petrol. Trial & error.

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Yep, Im still here.

Well, Dunc, if you'd looked at the Vavasour site you'd have seen they have a Clifford Bay range of wines - see http://www.cliffordbay.co.nz/wines/

Blimey; I'm amazed that Villa Maria did not succeed in protecting their prestige marque. Praps - geographic place names for brand descriptions are not available for protection under NZ commercial law.

Dunc talking Trade bollocks .

http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature ... llion_3274


They are all equity partners in a holding company, Thanks for the learning Mr P.

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Duncan

Duncan,

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Yep, Im still here.

Yeah, there was a twerp sitting in this office last night .....glug, glug, glug

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Duncan

No, Dunc, not for me the 09 Vavasour. That said, I wouldn't have thought the 08 to be your thing. Maybe the 08 had just evolved and the 09 could be much nicer.

You have a preference for fuller body with restrained flavour wheras I want lightweight but pungent wines. ( with no tarty bits )

That's what makes the JE 07 such a rarity. It had both weight and pungency in equal measure. Enough to satisy all of us.

Apart from Ba, obviously. I hear he mixed his with Cava, pomegranate and elderflowere cordial and HP sauce.