The 2012 was very good but this is staggering. Nothing to do with value it's wonderful in it's own right. It could pass for any of Saint Clair's Pioneer Blocks.

Pungent blackcurrant and boxwood on the nose. Light bodied, lowish acid, blackcurrant with a long lingering mix of capsicum and boxwood on the end,



Normally £6. Please buy one before you waste money on any other sb this Christmas.

Just had 3 more of these along with a couple of £10 champers, several other asst. bottles and a load of more mundane stuff.
Can't go wrong at a fiver.

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

Hmmm....very rich and blackcurranty with no complexity the last two bottles. Like Villa Maria Wairau Reserve in the first 6 to 12 months of it's life. Hopefully the first bottle was a sign of things to come.

Still, astonishing for a £6 bottled in England jobbie.

Did you try this, Ba.

Yep. Had one previously, and enjoyed it a lot so bought 3 more and 3 Gavi. Some bottle variation, as you say, and doesn't like to be too cold.
Not quite as enthusiastic as your good self but really great for the cash. Will get some more soon.

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

It's remarkable how similar this is to VMWR 2014 . Both have intense, dense blackcurrant flavour which is being restrained by a richness of body that needs time to mellow. In the case of VMWR we know where it will go. No idea where this will go.

June 2016.

This is very good. Intense blackcurrant/passion fruit and still just on the full side of medium bodied but mellowing. It's classic Villa Maria Wairau Reserve for £5.

Lacks the complexity of the finest Saint Clairs but aside from those it's the equal of any.

Hope all are well

g

Cheers Goose, all good here thanks
Peter Yealands 2015 has been the Sauvignon of choice for Mrs Shez and a lot of our friends have jumped on the bandwagon.
I'll have to try the koru up against it

Hi Shez.

Yealands do the Awatere style very well. I've not had an exceptional wine from them yet though. Tescos Finest MSB is much better since Yealands took over the production from Highlands Est.

The Ned 2015 has won an ELITE GOLD MEDAL: @ the AirNZ Wine Awards. Not had one yet.

If you try the 2014 Koru do post a note even if you're not keen. I think it's lovely, bit rich, but would be very correct for Wairau.

Best

Will do. I'd have thought that I'd only be able to get my hands on 2015 Koru now? Is 2014 still in stores?

Only the 2014 in my two nearest stores. I should buy a few to keep before Asda switch vintage. I think they will develop ok.

I hope you are keeping well Mr G. I have not been here and I have missed everyone's recent finds.

I'm afraid I have absolutely nothing to bring to the table with regard to MSB finds with true character at this stunnning price.
I was seduced by Majestic's offer of the St.C Pioneer Block 20 2014 - being £13.99 which I've placed in the cooler for the future. Just hoping, that perhaps, I might being able to get back to the Oh! Block days - a very big ask for sure.

At the ten pound price point, I enjoyed a VM cellar selection 2013 more that I could remember. It had pungency, and had settled down beautifully, wonderful balance. It was more engaging and had a lot more tropic fruits character that a recent Taylors Pass 2014.

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Duncan

I'm wary of made up names and bulk shipped wines, as per Koru, but the high praise here tempts me.

But the problem with such wines - and the advantage to the supermarket - is they can change the source of the contents of the bottle anytime they want.

I'm also a bit confused by the references to Marlborough area (such as very correct for Wairau) when it's from Nelson.. or is it, have they changed the source?

If it is from Nelson, likely suspect must be Seifried as I think the're the largest and they have a non-estate label and they also supply an own labelto M&S. But these are all bottled at the winery so you know what you're getting..

Hi MrD ~I'm good thanks~

pontac,

by this...such as very correct for Wairau...I mean

.... in a blind tasting with the 2014 VM Wairau Reserve I couldn't tell them apart. VM develops into something wonderful but as time stands they are the same wine. I don't get passion fruit I get blackcurrant but you know what I mean.

They're both too rich for their own good. The best SC wines are as Dunc puts it ' ethereal ' VM is never that but it does become a triumph of flavour over body in the end.

Although this is Nelson it is a good example of the Wairau style.

Buy one if you can. You'll have had better but you'll know why I rate it.