Can anyone find such a beauty, that was not much bigger money ? Widely available as well - Try as I might to find a good'un. . . . . . However.
This one was such a wine when bought at Waitrose on the 25% discount across the board offer, for £10.49
2012 Auntsfield Estate, Single vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc, southern valleys
Top NZ Sauvignon Blanc – Cuisine Magazine [i]5 Stars * * * * * - Rated No. 1 wine in tasting of 238 New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs
“ When sauvignon blanc is nurtured and made with care and respect, the result is a wine like this: pure, concentrated, juicy and interesting. A classic herbal and capsicum riff rings out over a slightly smoky, minerally bass line. A fine acid line and a suave, fleshy texture are the keys to the wine’s structural elegance. “It’s not reliant on any overt elements,” said John Belsham. “It’s restrained in both taste and texture.”Cuisine Magazine, Sauvignon Blanc Tasting, Jan 2013 [/i]
“ 95 per cent of this wine is cool-fermented in stainless steel using cultured yeasts. The balance is made from handpicked, whole-bunch pressed grapes that are fermented using wild yeasts in seasoned oak barrels, which adds subtle complexity without suppressing fruit intensity. Concentrated wine with a mix of stone fruit, passionfruit, mineral and a seasoning of grass/green capsicum flavours. Impressive texture and a lingering finish – very attractive.”
‘Top 12 Tasted & Rated NZ Sauvignon Blancs’ Bob Campbell
Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine, Jan 2013
Only 5% oak, yet the oak gives this MSB a beautiful flavour, wonderful texture / mouth feel, without - as Bob says, cloaking the intensity of the fruit.
A very lovely wine - can you collect 50p from each of your wine club members attending ?
In the meantime, I'll try and think of a cheaper, more overtly oaked wine. Pessac / decent Graves will be bonkersly dear. Grey Ghost is expensive, Te Mata is dear, Te Koko is now absolute bonkers, as well as beautiful. Californian SB Fume' blanc can be more oaked - Robert Mondavi - bonkersly again.
Ba - I did not fancy Blind River 2011 or was it 2012 ? Texture was wrong, and from memory, acidity and green gooseberry were fighting the oak, not complex, nor nice. 2013 may be better
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