Would love to report that these were great, but they’re only OK… The Doctors’ Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Marlborough, New Zealand (£9-£10 Waitrose, Booths) Reasonable mix of citrus and passionfruit with a touch of rhubarb, slightly on the soft side, due perhaps to age (2016 is current vintage in NZ), or […]
Marlborough
Smacked bottom time, Simon. Late last year, Kevin Judd sent me five vintages of his Wild Sauvignon Blanc from the Greywacke winery which he established in 2009. He produces a regular Sauvignon and a few other varieties too, but this is his attempt to show that there’s more to Marlborough […]
Going Wild and Wacky with Greywacke
Calmel & Joseph Villa Blanche Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Pays d’Oc, France (£8.95-£9.36 Viader Wines, Richard Granger Wines) Combines a ripe element – fleshy plum and guava – with a crisper, stonier citrus side: initially they sit apart but after a few minutes, they get together to make tuneful although not […]
Sauvignon Blanc from France & New Zealand
De Bortoli La Bohème Act Three Pinot Gris & Friends 2014, Yarra Valley, Australia (£13.96 Vinoteca) Fleshy & rich, with buxom pear, peach and lemon curd flavours and a touch of herbs reined in by a spine of freshness – from Riesling? Nutty finish but that zestiness maintains decorum, tasty […]
Pinot Gris from Australia & New Zealand
Roc St Vincent Bordeaux Sauvignon 2013, France (£8.25 Sainsbury’s) Fresh sappy style, nettles and cut grass to the fore, Grannie Smiths apples and grapefruit close behind, and a touch of Alka Seltzer-like minerality to add further zest. B(+) Château Gaillard Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Loire, France (~£10 Vintage Roots, Sip […]
Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux, the Loire and Marlborough
A big name in mouth-watering form… Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Marlborough, New Zealand (~£20 widely available) Sprightly wine, classic Spring flavours – cut grass, taut citrus tang, a touch of herbs – then fleshier rhubarb and passionfruit notes break through, but there’s always this spine of zesty acidity plus […]