I went into Majestic to buy The Ned 2008 Malborough, and picked up a few.

Then I asked for another New World SB that actually has tropical fruit notes and some ripeness for an SB. They recommended the EQ from the west coast of Chile, the San Antonio valley.

On Friday evening, and In Anticipation I unscrewed the cap, never quite makes it, does it ? A bit like unscrewing a pop drink, just too easy to unlock the secret. The first nose was Sulphur, there was some nettles, gooseberry and a bit of pungency, but that blasted sulphur was annoying.

I put the wine back in the fridge for two hours to get rid of the sulphur, which it almost does. This wine is £10.99 or £8.99 for a multi buy, so I was hoping for something rather interesting.

There are no tropical fruit notes. The young man who recommended the wine needs palate training ! Nothing wrong with it, not particularly tart, but not ultra clean either (unlike £9 NZ MSB), the middle is very full and concentrated, but there is a green under ripe vein running all through the end flavour, which is annoying, and a tiny touch of angastora bitters, that I don't want.
The marketing of this wine is some sort of hype, balancing soils with nature and the vine - what ever that is ? It does not significantly improve matters over reasonable £7.99 New World SB. I think the wine will improve with a little age, as today the Sulpur has almost gone, and it could be very OK with sea food as well. But..... I asked for an SB that doubles as an apperatif with some tropical fruit notes.

Disappointed.


Mr G, I don't think I shall find the Nectar again for quite a while, without going up to £14 or so. The nectar as embodied and so well defined in Vavasour's MSB "The Reach 2007". G. You should have instructed me to buy a truck load, I blame you for destroying any anticipation I shall have for a great Sauvignon Blanc at under £10 quid : I shall keep looking for the last of the Malborough 2007's from a good producer .

Forward and onward, to the Jackson Estate 2007 for the next try, if I can find it in a Waitrose Store ! BTW, My stock of The Crossings 2007 is coming good, with a bit more bottle age.

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Duncan