Expert articles and wine tasting videos profiling wines from Marlborough wine region in New Zealand, & more.

2022 Kirkland Signature Ti Point Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

We are big fans of Kirkland (Costco) products including their wines.  They contract with quality vendors to makes legitimate wines at a fair price.  This is no exception.  A straight down the middle New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.  Light gold/green in color.  The nose has grapefruits, gooseberry and slight herbal notes.  Light to medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  On the palate, this is dry but has good bright fruit.  Gooseberries and some grapefruits.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  While it is likely most of this is drunk on its own, it will work with lighter foods.  A nice choice for a tuna s

2018 Huia Blanc de Blancs, New Zealand, Marlborough, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$36.00USD

This is 100% sparkling Chardonnay from New Zealand.  Silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  A good amount of medium to small sized bubbles.  The nose peach with toast.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is concentrated and tight.  It took some time to open showing peach with some yeasty  notes and underlying char.  Good finish.  This drinks well on its own and should be very foo friendly.  A nice wine with a BLT or a Veggie Burger.  Drink over the next five years.

2021 Ponga Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, Marlborough, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is not your typical New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc!  If served blind, I would probably guess the Loire Valley in France (the ancestral home to the grape).  Light green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with lots of yellow grapefruits along with a bit of peach and minerality.  Light to medium bodied.  Nice balance.  On the palate, again, lots of yellow grapefruits with some peach and underlying minerality.  Very clean and refreshing finish.  This drinks great on its own and will work well with lighter foods and especially sea food.  Drink over the next few years.  

2017 Sineann Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

From Oregon producer Sineann, they also make a line of wines in New Zealand.  This is a delightful and classic style of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has peaches but also a hint of tropical fruits.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the fruits come thru to match the nose.  More tropical fruit on the finish.  Slightly viscous texture.  Dry.  This is drinking well but probably should be consumed in the next few years.  It drinks great on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  

2019 Sineann Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Sineann is more well known for the Oregon and Washington wines, but they also make this gem in New Zealand.  Owner-winemaker Peter Rosback just can't sit still.  Screw capped.  Silvery/gold in color with a slight copper hue.  The nose is tight upon opening but with a bit of air open to show a nice minerality followed by gooseberries.  With more air a yellow lemonade note become prominent.  This has a lovely oily texture.  On the palate, the lemonade note is there right away followed by gooseberries and an interesting menthol tobacco note.  This has nice acidity.  A long finish that does sho

2019 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, Marlborough, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This was the wine that put New Zealand wines on the worldwide map.  That was twenty or thirty years ago (the winery was actually founded in 1985), and it had been a while since I have tried this wine.  And, it is still excellent.  Light green/gold in color.  The nose has tropical fruits and limes.  Very nice.  Clean.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Just a hint of sweetness.  Tropical fruits with slight citrus.  Enough acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks easily on its own.  It will work well with lighter foods, maybe a fruit salad?  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2012 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, Marlborough, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Grade: 

Sadly, this has not held up.  It was purchased on release and well stored since then.  It is still drinkable but really not why anyone would buy this wine.  Silver/gold in color.  The nose is problematic.  Someone described it as peanut butter and that is close.  I found it more like the skins on roasted peanuts.  In any event it is odd.  Others found it worse.  Perhaps a bit better on the palate, but mostly nondescript.  This was probably much better 6 years ago.  If you own any, no harm in opening now, but have a back up bottle.  

2018 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, Marlborough, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$14.00USD

This turned out to be the group favorite in a tasting of ten New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs.  Silvery gold in color.  The nose has nice grapefruit notes.  On the palate, this has a nice oily texture.  Good minerality.  Lively acidity and a solid finish.  It drinks easy on its own and will go with seafood and lighter foods.  Priced well, this provides lots of pleasure for a reasonable cost for those who like this style.  

2018 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, Marlborough, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

It was nice to revisit this icon which really started the whole New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc industry.  The truth is, however, this no longer sets itself apart from the pack except for the pricing.  Pale silvery/gold in color.  The nose is lemony and tart.  Those characteristics carry thru to the palate.  Nice acidity.  Solid finish.  This is a very good wine that will work with lighter foods and seafood.  

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