Sauvignon Blanc

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.  

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.  

Light golden in color.  The nose is mostly about melons with slight tropical fruit notes.  On the palate, this wine is soft.  It is easy to drink and tasty though I expected a bit more energy/acidity.  It will work with lighter foods and seafood.  

Light yellow in color.  The nose is very nice.  Melons and slight cat pee.  It is a big wine.  With air, the tropical fruit emerges and a bit of grassiness.  On the palate, this has a nice depth.  Melons and slight grapefruits.  Good texture and finish.  That said, I would drink this now and these wines are best enjoyed in their youth.  It will work well with sea foods and other lighter foods.  

This is made by Peter Rossback who is better known for his wines from Oregon and Washington in the US.  During his slower season, he heads down to New Zealand where he sources grapes to make Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.  This one is getting a bit long in the tooth and would have been better served being opened a couple of years ago.  Silvery gold in color.  The nose has a bit of gooseberries and minerals but is pretty light.  On the palate, there is some lemon peel and minerals.  Shorter finish.  Nothing bad about this wine but at this age (3 years from vintage), it has lost its zing.  

Light golden in color.  The nose has tropical fruit.  Very friendly.  On the palate, there are some gooseberries and slight grapefruits.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  In our tasting of these, this wine got the most first place votes although the results were varied.  It should be consumed now.  Seafood and lighter foods will be a good match.  

Pale, silvery gold in color.  The nose has melons with some gooseberries.  Also an underlying minerality.  On the palate, this is slightly tart with a bit of lemon cream pie.  It has a nice creamy texture.  Good finish.  A pleasant wine that should be consumed now.  It will work with lighter foods or on its own.  

Pale silvery gold in color.  The nose is yellow grapefruit juice; classic.  On the palate, the grapefruit continues.  This has a nice depth with good acidity.  Nice finish.  This should be drunk now.  Plenty of enjoyment on its own or with lighter foods.  

This is 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Lorie Valley in France.  Yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a nice minerality with crushed shells.  Slight grassiness.  On the palate, this is slightly oily with nice minerality.  Clean finish.  This is a solid wine that is a very nice value at $13.  It will drink well on its own or with lighter foods.  

This is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (44%), Chardonnay (41%), Malvasia (10%), and Pinot Gris(5%).  The name comes from a proprietary clone of Sauvignon Blanc that Flora Springs utilizes in the Crossroads vineyard.   It is an interesting white that really needs some air when opening.  Silvery/green in color with pale yellow/gold.  On opening the oak is dominant and that did not work well.  Of course, this is just being released and that will cure itself.  In any event, patience is rewarded.  After about an hour of breathing the tropical fruit came out.  A slight bit of grassiness, in a good wa