This is an offer price.

I didn't like this lightly chilled or cold but somewhere inbetween it was passable.

I am sure that VM up the residual sugar to create a fuller bodied, rounder wine than say Montana.

Sweet vanilla like flavours finally gave way to some pleasant elderflower but it wasn't really worth the wait...

Hi Mr G, how did you rate the VM "Cellar Sellection" Sauvignon 2007, on the brown label ? This wqas normally £9.49 but discounted in Store only to £5.99 just for a few days before Christmas.

Also, re Wither Hills Curious Cove SB 2008. I found that the wine improved dramatically if it had been openned the night before and say a glass or two was removed, then sucked out and put in the cool over night (not fridge but unheated utility room or larder, then drunk the next day.

Can a SB from NZ be too young for all the flavours and the acidity to be properly integrated ? Sounds rather complicated doesn't it ? Or is it my taste buds playing up ?

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Duncan

Hi Duncan,

The Villa Maria Cellar Selection was quite rich and rounded and just not my style at all.

The Curious Cove was an oddity. Some were quite light bodied with a lovely pungent flavour and some were as you describe and benefitted from being opened 24 hours earliar and in my case being left in the fridge overnight and then being taken out a few hours before drinking....this had a mellowing effect on what would otherwise have been quite a harsh wine.

Too much like hard work in the end and I won't be recommending the wine again even at half price.

Here's a link to an excellent site ( not as good as this one, obviously ) with a huge number of tasting notes including many from the new 2008 vintage for all things New Zealand.

http://www.bobswinereviews.com/

Cheers for that link Goosegogs. That Bob Campbell enjoys his NZ wine tasting duties for certain - an incredible depth of coverage of the whole of both Islands. Amazing coverage.

Mr G. - How have you found his opinion and authority as it relates to your taste buds ? And, would you say his SB sumaries are correct for Malborough ?

It is interesting to note that dollar prices are much closer together for the Sauvignon Blanc monopole domaine wines versus the generic ones that we find in the supermarket warehouses. In the UK, anything which is from a small producer or smaller domaine, even though it may be from the same company, and marketed by the same producer, has a heavy premium. I suppose it is the Heinz mentality, and a penalty that one suffers from Huge Retail Operators. Price positioning of course - silly me.

As long as a wine is consistently indifferent, and produced in huge volumes, it is great for the logistics and computer data base people and their UK roll-out programme. Duh

Mr G I persevered (spelling) with the Curious what's-It because I thought the money was very affordable for what it was - maybe I had a good batch, I do agree that one could get all the smears off one's windows with it, on 1st opening. I'd say though, the CC is well above the mid scale for Sauvignon around the World today - I've had some Chiliean ones that are stale, lifeless, over woody and gum wrenching.

You are our SB man with a discerning antipodean bent Sorry Kiwi bent !

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Duncan

Never argue with a Master of Wine....last time I argued with Mel about one of her tasting notes she sent her mother in law around to drink all my Sancerre

This guy however does seem to have a preference for sb's that can stand up to food. By that I mean wines that have the body to match their pungent flavours. I prefer the lighter style. A type that only ever seem to get bronze medal ratings ( 80/85 ) off Mr Campbell.

He's probably right in the sense that his preferences are the greater technical efforts but I drink wine for the pure pleasure of it .Admiring a wine's quality and correctness come a distant second.

Send Mel the bill, Teasing her out of her lair ! She doing her tax return for the 31st Jan deadline Eh ?

Mr G, I know you like fresh, light zingy sancerre with an ethereal quality and finesse. This one is like a scottish waterfall for purity.



Domain Cottereaux Sauvignon Blanc, yeah I know, I couldn't find the pic of the sancerre blanc. You won't be dissapointed if you find it, However, there is a price to pay . The 2007 is every bit as pure and fresh as you want, and totally unlike the 2005's which are far too volluptuous and full figured for you. Drink this one after a shower and with nothing in the way of your palate. Well that's enough from me.

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Duncan

Actually, my tax return was in in September. Since then I've had various bizarre notes saying I owe them £11, which I paid, then I'd overpaid £17 then they said I'd overpaid £18.04. Very strange.

Just got a lot of other stuff to deal with, sorry.

Nothing to do with Sauvignon but I have the most beautiful pork recipe. No measurements but wow - sock blowing off time. With a Pinot Noir. Complete heaven.

http://ninazer0.wordpress.com/2007/03/2 ... mment-2774

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mel

[quote="meljones"]Actually, my tax return was in in September. Since then I've had various bizarre notes saying I owe them £11, which I paid, then I'd overpaid £17 then they said I'd overpaid £18.04. Very strange.
Just got a lot of other stuff to deal with, sorry.


No Mel, not that strange. OK, your repayment was 17 quid, then by Christmas, you'd earnt £1.04 supplementary interest on that repayment OK.

Sorry Folks - Off Topic :

Now Mrs Jones, when you are a Master of Wine, and have self employment income and efficient tax computations to do, You should contact me. That's what I do now. I do your accounts and your tax and you as a young M.O.W go out and earn loads of dosh. Then I save you, some of the tax, and loads of the hassle.

How does that sound Ranger ?

Have you ever tried the Pasada Pastrana Manzanilla ? A few notches up on the La Gitana

.

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Duncan