Now this is my kinda Marlborough sauvignon blanc !
great aromas: more tropical fruit and grapefruit rather than cat pee
this really pack a punch in flavour too. Rich and intense fruit and like drinking an exotic fruit salad and that very desirable Blackcurrant leaf note. Vibrant acidity and great texture with a lovely long finish.
I've found 2012 to be a cracking vintage for the region in general and this is definitely one the nicest examples I've enjoyed

Bob C scored the 2013 vintage 93 points (90pts for 2011 but no review of 2012)

Currently 25% off at TWbtC:
http://m.tesco.com/mt/www.tesco.com/win ... =285414452

Thanks for this TN, Shez.

I've just finished a bottle of Vavasour 2013, and that is exactly my **observation of this usual sub £10 style.

Remarkable coincidence this, when I opened this Vavasour wine on Friday evening, my First objection was an over delivery of **cats pee. I like pungency, but the CP just got on my nerves.

We are in accord, tropical stone fruits with extra Passion & Lychee, or pink grapefruit is what I desire from Marlborough sauvignon blanc. I've been getting exactly that from VM Taylors Pass '12 and their other reserve wines on the black label. The Giesen 'Brothers' '12 was good in the fuller style, and Astrolabe Awatere '12 is also most elegant. This ARA 2012 cuvee' could be a saving.

I will have to check out Ara Select blocks on the '12 vintage, regrettably, it is unlikely to be on the shelf in the stores.

I'm liking the '12 vintage also, yet I haven't drunk any cheap 12's so - I can't properly qualify that opinion, no, not at all.

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Duncan

Shez,

You know my taste in MSB, would this be too full bodied for me.

This sounds good....I like ' dense ' to me it means concentrated flavour with mellow acidity and subdued body. Like VMWR MSB after about three years in bottle.

http://www.bobswinereviews.com/ara-select-block-k54-marlborough-nz-pinot-noir-2012-review.html

Hi Goose

For my sins I've not ever tried the VMWR. However, this is up there with the VMCS & VM Taylors Pass in 2012 vintage
It is quite voluptuous without being overly full bodied. I wouldn't imagine it's too full bodied for you but may be in the upper bracket of your preferred spectrum and has a mellow acidity
The Ara tasting notes describe the wine well. This spends 6 months on lees but that seems to contribute more to texture than flavour IMHO
http://www.arawines.com/images/uploads/ ... g_Note.pdf

Btw, You've given the link to the pinot noir rather than the sauv blanc:
http://www.bobswinereviews.com/ara-sele ... eview.html

At 9 quid a bottle there's not much better out there at the moment for me so should be worth a try

They've upped the price to £12, so am not getting my case now.

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

That's a shame. I thankfully ordered some the other day
Only available at teaco online so can't get any in store
Majestic sell it to but it's £12 there aswell

Bacchus/goose/Duncan, perhaps the following case might be of interest to you:
http://m.tesco.com/mt/www.tesco.com/win ... =287108322

2x select blocks 2012
2x luis Felipe gran Reserva Sauvignon 2012
2x norton winemakers reserve cab sauv 2010

Works out £8.33 a bottle (afraid you'll have to find some use for the cab tho Ba & G)

Tesco also just released a spring clearance line that may have something appealing such as Waipara 2012 for £6 and Tim Adams protege riesling for £7: http://mailing.tesco.com/cgi-bin3/DM/t/ ... U0DlZrr0El

(Don't forget to use Mel's tesco banner)

Cheers Shez,

Waipara SB, goes surprisingly well with light Thai, Nepallese and Indian tarka dahl chicken dinners - do not go up to Madras and beyond chilli heat though expecting anything vino to survive an authentic onslaught . . . .

Waipara normally has sufficient texture and ripe fullness to carry it off. Have we done the Waipara '12 yet ?

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Duncan

I've only had the 2011 WH SB. I scored that pretty well so would like to think 2012 should perform well also. For £6 it should be good value.
I'm not going to buy any myself because of recent Ara purchase and my current large stock:small consumption ratio
I haven't checked what Bob scores this yet but decent value compared with the email I got from majestic today advertising oyster bay on offer for £7.99!

the wine went OOS before You wrote that Shez !

Sorry, this product is currently unavailable

Such is the way of these offers . . .

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Duncan

Yeah, you snooze you lose with some of these offers

Guys,
if you fancy giving this a go now, it's reduced to £8.99 at Majestic when you buy 2 bottles in the mix and match range...

Shared a bottle of this last night. Served a bit colder than last time so some of the tropical notes were muted. Grassy, grapefruit flavours more prominent and lovely minerality. A very enjoyable drop
Out of stock on Majestic online and £12 at Tesco WbtC. This was recently selling for £8 and based on this tasting, I'll be looking out for it at that price again (still thankfully have a case remaining)