JB’s Top 10 Savvies from the last 12 months of tasting…
To celebrate International Sauvignon Blanc Day 2017, I decided to take a look back through my tasting notes over the last 12 months to pick my top ten favorite Sauvignon Blancs. There have been some excellent Sauvignon Blanc from the lighter “low alcohol” style, Juicy, Tropical, Grassy, Savoury and all the way to big Fume Blanc Styled wild barrel-fermented wines.
I have the pleasure of tasting dozens of New Zealand wine samples every year, which I enjoy and sharing my thoughts on my blog and across my social media network. I have experienced the pleasure of 1,000s of New Zealand wines, since I fell in love with and became passionate about the industry many years ago!
I’ve enjoyed Savvy from many wine regions including Marlborough, Nelson, Otaki, Hawke’s bay, NorthCanterbury and the Waipara Valley – all exhibiting different diverse characters, expressing the local terroir and winemaking styles. You cant help but love them, and much of the World has fallen love with NZ Sauvignon Blanc too. Keep up the great work NZ…
SO… in no particular order they are:
Blind River Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Clear bright pale straw in coloue, with clean fresh aromatics, herbal notes, tropical passionfruit, Juicy on the palate with citrus, apple and subtle oak giving some complexity and texture, long rich finish well balanced – a beautiful example of Awatere Savvy.
Blank Canvas Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016
Pale straw with hints of green, tropical passionfruit and citrus notes, salty in the nose, softly textured, medium bodied with fresh stoney acidity, very well integrated and balanced wine… Great length – one of my fave savs tasted from this vintage!
Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Awatere, Marlborough 2016
Pale lemon, Awatere savoury notes, tropical, capsicum. Softer acidity with lemon lime citrus flavours on the palate – almost chalky texture (mineral), fresh, elegant everlasting finish! Lovely!
Two Rivers Convergence Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Very Pale straw in clour with green tinges, tropical fruit, capsicum, savoury and herbal aromatics. A textured wine with concentrated fruit flavours, crisp acidity, slight minerality and a long succulent finish.
Ohau Gravels Sauvignon Blanc Ohau NZ 2014
Lemon gold in colour, soft florals and stonefruit in the nose, lots of lemony limey citrus on the palate with a little minerality (wet stone) beautifully balanced, great body & texture – juicy long finish.
Linden Estate Sauvignon Blanc Hawke’s Bay 2016
Pale straw in colour with hints of green, Very aromatic with white peach / nectarine and passionfruit in the nose. Lashings of tropical fruit, creamy mouthfeel, crisp acidity and structure, lucious!
Mahana Waimea Plains Sauvignon Blanc Nelson 2015
Bright straw gold / savoury green stalk, currant nose with a hint of smoke / funk & toasty, clean, crisp and bone dry, limey acidity almost Fume in style on the palate – bloody good!
Pig’s Back Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016
Pale lemon / lime coloured in the glass, lemons & limes, tropical and grassy notes in the nose, juicy and fresh with a citrus – grapefruit acidity, and passionfruit on the finish. Yum!
Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016
Pale straw-hints of lime , grassy herbaceous, green peppe & tropical nose, beautifully structured, rich, full flavoured, stonefruit and citrus, tight acidity leading into very long moreish finish!
Fairhall Downs Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016
Lovely Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough. Pale straw with hints of green and gold in the glass, a mix of herbal, passionfruit & citrus notes on the nose, lovely soft acidity with a fresh, clean, vibrant palate.
I hope you all have a fantastic day today, but maybe we should celebrate New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc every day! CHEERS! JB.
