Although some of these tasting notes may be found elsewhere on this site, this page brings together most of my 2007 vintage Sauvignon Blanc notes, listed alphabetically by producer. Click here for rating systems and abbreviations.

In my notes 'gooseberry' refers to the South Island green gooseberry unless otherwise specified. Cape gooseberry and Chinese gooseberry (kiwifruit) are different fruits.
Following the wine names, the wine bottle closure is indicated. (sc) = screwcap, (c) = cork, (p) = plastic.

Click here for a historical perpsective of Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand.

Askerne Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Hot and fiery with a chilli-infusion and a slightly gravelly undercurrent to the warm, creamy, toasty flavours with a touch of lemon grass and despite being fermented to dryness, there is a confectionary sweetness to the finish. 7% barrel ferment. 14% alc. $16. 24Nov2007.

Astrolabe Awatere Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) A lovely, ripe, juicy style, deliciously pungent and hot with red pepper, tomato stalk, tobacco and juicy green fruit. With its cornucopia of flavour, this wine stands out in a tasting because of its exuberance and vibrancy. 13% alc. $22. 4Sep2007.

Astrolabe Kekerengu Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) A delicately pungent yet tantalising aroma of tropical fruit, lime and gooseberry and juicy, fresh, crushed fruit flavours with a silk-coated, fine-grained chalky undercurrent. Sweet herbs, lime, melon and tomato, stonefruit, then passionfruit fill the mouth and a saltiness comes through on the long, dry finish. 91% of the fruit comes from about Kekerengu, abouthalfway between Blenheim and Kaikoura. 13% alc. $26. 3Sep2007.

Astrolabe Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Not as immediately pungent on the nose as the Awatere wine, but fresh and juicy and more typically Wairau to the taste with gooseberry and passionfruit , then horned melon adding to the softer finish. There's lovely purity to this fresh, mouth watering wine and the aftertaste is long and juicy. 13% alc. $20. 4Sep2007.
Pale straw with a fruity aroma of passionfruit, gooseberry and bright summer herbs, deliciously juicy with a soft oily texture, powerful gooseberry flavours, a touch of lime and apple adding raciness to the long pungent nettley finish. A blend of Wairau and Awatere fruit. 13% alc. $19.99. 19Sep2007.

Auntsfield Long Cow Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Grassy and herbaceous with spicy melon and citrus aromas. It's dry to the taste with greengage and lime flavours with palate richness and fruit sweetness. Some lees and oak work adds interest and creaminess to the long full finish and the aftertaste is zingy and bright. 15% barrel ferment, and 7.5% wild yeasts. A softer creamier style, but still distinctly Sauv Blanc. 213.5% alc. $22.50. 9Oct2007.

Bach 22 East Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Green methoxypyrazine scents are heading to the dark, metallic side - with sweaty, dirty, dank characters overpowering the initially upfront tropical fruit / pineapple / lemons and orange brightness with sulphurous / struck match notes tasking over the finish. Fun label but disappointing wine. 12.5% alc. $11.95. 24Nov2007.
Full of fresh cut grass and capsicum flavours with underlying tropical fruit, pineapple, lemon and oranges. Refreshing, as savvies always should be, with a long tasty finish. 12.5% alc. $11.95. 7 Dec2007.

Black Barn Vineyard Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Grassy aroma and a soft creamy flavour with tropical fruit and stonefruit, a zesty brightness and a slightly sweetish finish. There's only about 3g/l residual sugar, but the acids are lower than in most Marlborough styles. Clean, easy drinking style. $21. 9Oct2007.

Blackenbrook Vineyard Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Light golden coloured with powerful aromas and flavours of citrus, apple and nectarine with underlying gooseberry and tropical fruit. Juicy and flavoursome with an amazingly long finish where hints of tobacco, tomato stalk and capsicum emerge. A wine of richness and power with a wonderful texture, bright acidity and balance all the way through. A truly remarkable Nelson Sauvignon Blanc. 13% alc. $18.99. 3Oct2007.

Blind River Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) ) Bright and zesty with grapefruit on the nose and juicy-sweet tangelo-like citrus in the delicately musky palate with vivacious tropical fruit, underlying herbaceousness and a typical gooseberry pungency. Subtle oak adds richness and texture and power yet it's focussed and linear with its pure, citrussy seam. 10 percent of the wine had wild ferment in French oak, the remainder was cool fermented in stainless steel. 13% alc. $27. 24Nov2007.

Boreham Wood Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Herbs and tomato stalk on the nose lead into a warm, fleshy palate with stonefruit, melon, zesty grapefruit-like citrus and a grassy finish. It's young and vibrant with lots of flavour and excellent length that lasts and lasts. If it develops like the 2006 has, it will be stunning. Just give it time. 13.5% alc. $21. 16Oct2007.

Bouldevines Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Citrus, herbs and a hint of passionfruit on the nose and a bright, zesty palate with a touch of sweetness imparting a creamy softness. It's fresh and long with bright grapefruit acidity and scintillating summer herbs and hits the spot with it juicy approachability. 13% alc. $231.50. 20Mar2008.

Burnt Spur Russian Jack Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Zesty and a little sherbetty on the nose with a hint of 'pink bubblegum', there's juicy melon in the clean, crisp palate with a slightly grainy texture, a touch of spice and loads of juicy melon. Served chilled when tasted, it's very refreshing with an earthy, chalky minerality. A blend of Wairau and Awatere Valley fruit. 13% alc. $20. 2Sep2007.

Catalina Sounds Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Bright and vivacious with juicy tropical fruit, gooseberry and citrus scents. Reminiscent of a Saint Clair, it's juicy with sweet fruit, a balancing citrussy undercurrent, summer herbs and luscious passion fruit and lime zest on the finish. There's 8% barrel ferment and a small portion of wild ferment. 12.5% alc. $21. 3Sep2007.

Clayridge Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) A touch of gold to the colour, spicy and zesty with tropical fruit and citrus and just a little chilli heat, this powerful, pungent and lightly toasty wine is simply full of flavour with a warm texture, baked golden apples, honey and pungent gooseberry and green bean. Rounded and balanced. Exciting. 13.5% alc. NZ$20.

Clos Marguerite Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Quite chilled when tasted, this fresh, crisp wine showed dry, citrussy, steely aromatics and dominant, sweet-fruited, passionfruit and pineapple flavours with a little bit of capsicum emerging on the finish. I can sense the layers in this complex, dry crisp steely wine that has fruit lushness and a tangy brightness. 13.5% alc. $22. 3Sep2007.

Cloudy Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Shy on nose for sauvignon, hints of musk, tropical fruit, and melon. Light in the palate with a hint of sweetness, a slightly oily palate, apple-like fruit, bubble gum esters and a soft finish - seems to lack pungency and attack but the finish is long and clean and laced with spearmint like herbs. Smoky and pungent but light and lemony with a sweet finish. Tasted a day or so later, it's much more varietal and more powerful and rich with grass, herbs and tropical fruit. 13.5% alc. $33.95. $24Nov2007.
Zingy and vibrant with a ton of crisp, fresh, grassy flavours and razor sharp acidity balancing the ripe, sweet tropical fruit with melon, capsicum and hints of pineapple playing around in the background. It slips down nicely and the finish is pungent and long. A somewhat 'retro' style for Cloudy Bay - but that's a good thing because lots more people liked it this year. 13.5% alc. $32.99. 23Jan2008.

Coopers Creek Early Release Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Full of the vibrant fruit that made Marlborough sauvignon blanc a worldwide success, there's gooseberry, feijoa, lime and passionfruit playing on a backbone of fresh, grassy herbaceousness with a long, long mouth-filling flavour that lasts long after the wine has been swallowed. Fresh and delicious. 13% alc. $17. 21May2007.

Culley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Very pale. Bubble gum esters on nose and in palate, this is so, so young, it's hardly wine yet. But wait. Mint and coriander and all sorts of delicious summer herbs, with hints of tomato, apple and pineapple underpinned by a slightly oily texture with hints of gooseberry and an explosion of deliciousness on the finish. Do I detect a hint of sweat. Yes I do. Bright, tasty and refreshing, it stood out when tasted blind amongst a whole raft of 2006's. 13% al.c $19.90. 8Sep2007.

Dog Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Smoke, gooseberry, passionfruit and a vegetal / grassy nuance to the aroma, it's grassy and herbaceous to the taste with capsicum to the fore and some steely notes too. There's a hint of toastiness and a bright, punchy, vibrant citrussy undercurrent with tropical fruit and hints of peachy stonefruit on the long, pungent finish. Seems a little 'old-fashioned' in style, but show it quality by the way it opens up in the glass. A superb expression of Marlborough. 13.5% alc. $23. 24Nov2007.

Drylands Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Mouthfillingly rich from the outset with fruit salad, tropical fruit, herbs, honey and toasted apples, there is lots going in this lovely rich powerful sweet-fruited savvy. It has pungency and power and a salty tang to the herbaceous, zesty, long, juicy finish with great length. Excellent. 13% alc. $NZ20. 24Nov2007.

Esk Valley Black Label Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Light green gold with a fresh fruity tropical fruit aroma hinting of pineapple and gooseberry, and crisp, fresh, dry, citrussy flavours with a strong gooseberry undercurrent, hints of nettles, herbs and limes. It's warm and full-bodied with a slightly oily texture and a balanced softness to the long, tangy finish. 13.5% alc. 5g/l rs. $20.50. 14Aug2007.

Greystone Waipara Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Soft, green and grassy smelling with hints of lemon and perhaps even a nuance of 'sweat'. Soft and just a little austere to start but very quickly the vibrant citrus, melon, tropical fruit and apple flavours fill the palate with their fruitiness and there's a delicate infusion of summer herbs. 13.5% alc. $19.50. 19Oct2007.

Highfield Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Citrus and just a hint of musky sweat on the nose and summer herbs to the fore in the oily palate. With grapefruit initially the dominant fruit it seems 'austere' to start but opens up beautifully with delicious sweet melon, stonefruit, tropical fruit and a touch of sweetness on the rounded mouthfilling and pungent finish. 13% alc. $20.99. 16Jan2008.

Jackson Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Youthful and spritzy with a herbaceous and slightly floral aroma and a citrussy palate. Light, bright, sprightly and clean with loads of apparent acidity when tasted next to the previous vintage, but really hits the spot when consumed straight from the fridge on a gorgeous hot day. 13.5% alc. $22.50. 24Nov2007.

Jules Taylor Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Juicy, vibrant and punchy with musk, sweat pea and sweet citrus aromas and a grassy, herbaceous undercurrent to the tropical fruit, lime and grapefruit flavours. Intense and zesty with a powerfully long finish and fabulous length. 13% alc. $17.99. 5Dec2007.
A sweeter smelling savvie with crisp lime, gooseberry, green melon, cut grass and apple flavours, it's juicy, fresh, bright and tasty with a spritzy tingle adding liveliness and a touch of oiliness adding a lovely slipperiness to the mouthfeel. Long and pungent with pineapple and basil adding excitement to the finish. 13% alc. $17.99. 16Jan2008.

Lawson's Dry Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) A slightly deeper lemon gold colour has been aided and abetted by a smidgen of oak, which adds textural complexity to this ripe, juicy, pungent flavour with hints of grapefruit, cherimoya fruit, a herbaceous, citrussy character and a lemony backbone which keeps the delicious sweet fruit in check. 13% alc. $NZ21. 24Nov2007.

Margrain Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Immediately this seems a more warmer, rounded style, perhaps because it's from Martinborough, not Marlborough. Perfumed with a musky aroma and soft melon notes underpinned with a juicy, zesty, spritzy texture and tangelo fruit, a touch of passionfruit and a bubblegum sweetness to the finish. Clean, zesty and long. 13.5% alc. $24. 24Nov2007.

Matua Valley Paretai Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Incredibly pale, just the lightest tint of straw, this smells tantalising and fresh with a myriad of aromas that suggest ripe tropical fruit, summery herbs, day lily flowers, capsicum and even a suggestion of 'sweat'. Lemon and grapefruit tease the palate then the incredibly rich oily slippery texture becomes the key focus of attention with flavours of grass, passionfruit and melon combining in harmony. It's not too sweet, not too dry, just impeccable power and balance, but most of all, purity. Great flavour throughout. Great after flavour too. It's a wine with jazz and pizzazz! 13.5% alc. $28. 24Nov2007.

Matua Valley Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Pungent and tasty with gooseberry on nose and a bright, fresh, zesty palate with gooseberries, herbs and limes. Very dry, quite spritzy with a hot capsicum-filled pungent finish and a hint of B.O. with time. A totally interesting wine with fruit from Wairau and Awatere Valleys. 13.5% alc. NZ$20. 24Nov2007.

Momo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Bright and citrussy on the nose, quite pungent with a hint of capsicum, the initial bracing, tart flavour is full of crisp granny smith apples and limes with pineapple the dominant tropical fruit. It's fresh and vibrant with plenty of tangy flavour, a herbaceous undercurrent and a coriander leaf oiliness with grapefruit sherbet on the pungent aftertaste. Made by Seresin Estate. 13.5% alc. $19.95. 30Aug2007.
Pale lime green in colour, this crisp, dry and bracingly racy wine is full of gooseberry, herbs and tomato stalk with a touch of citrus. It's slightly oily in texture with a powerful finish and a pungent, grassy aftertaste. 13.5% alc. 31Oct2007.

Montana "B" Brancott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) There's a hint of 'sweat' joining lime and gooseberry on the nose and sweet tropical fruit, lime and pineapple in the palate with a herbal twist. Long and tasty, and despite the sweet fruit entry, it finishes crisp and dry with a spicy, zesty freshness and a lasting finish. 14% alc. $33.99. 16Jan2008.

O:Tu Marlborough Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Bright, fresh, crisp and tasty with tropical guava and a gooseberry purity, there's a richness to the exotic tropical fruit finish with a lovely, salty tang to the lingering juicy aftertaste. The only wine at this stage from Otuwhero Estates, who are on the coastal side of State Highway 1 near Blind River on the southern side of the Awatere. This wine gets top marks for branding too. $21. 2Sep2007.
A vivaciously fruity sauvignon blanc, straw gold coloured and full of gooseberry, grapefruit and pungent tropical fruit scents, perhaps even a touch of 'sweat'. Soft on entry to the palate, lightly oily and brightly flavoursome with a grassy, summer herb undercurrent to the gooseberry, melon and tropical fruit, a citrus zest finish and lots of tingly vibrancy. 13.5% alc. $18.99.5Mar2008.

Palliser Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Shy on nose at first but sweet pea notes emerge. Tropical fruit and grapefruit-like citrus in palate with underlying sweet summer herbs, a touch of tomato stalk and a bright, vibrant finish with great explosion of sauvignon richness and power and incredible length. Power, power, power. 13.5% alc. NZ$22. 24Nov2007.

Palliser Pencarrow Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Fresh, crisp and juicy with a green fruit richness (green melon, perhaps), a tangelo brightness, a well proportioned herbaceousness and fruit sweetness on the long, bright, tasty, zesty finish. Predominantly Martinborough fruit with some from Gladstone and Marlborough too, it's tasty with plenty of user appeal. 13% alc. $20.50. 9Oct2007.
Pungent and expressive on the nose with hints of tomato and salad veg, it's bright and zesty in the palate with ripe tropical fruit over a taut backbone of citrus and herbs. Clean and crisp with a grainy, chalky texture, a fresh, vibrant finish and a long, creamy aftertaste. 13% alc. $17. 24Nov2007.

Ra Nui Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc)
Shy on the nose, with hints of tropical fruit and stonefruit that belie the rich, vibrant and citrussy flavours. Oily textured with a hint of greengage plum and a spicy, slightly salty, zesty undercurrent that builds to a delicately stated but nicely rounded tropical fruit finish. The hint of stonefruit detected on the nose join in, there's a floral nuance and a hint of smoke as grassy herbs and gooseberries emerge on the chalky aftertaste. 13% alc. $20.00. 26Aug2007.

Richmond Plains Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Grassy, herbaceous and pungent (hot breath) with juicy, tropical guava flavours, power and pungency and lots and lots of juicy sauvignon flavour. 12.5% alc. $19.95. 24Nov2007.

Rippon Lake Wanaka Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Rich and textural with bright, citrussy fruit that paves the way for the explosion of tropical fruit and passionfruit. It's layered nicely onto a crisp, steely backbone and the long finish is almost pungent. If you are into yeasts you can pick up the partial wild ferment characters on the nose and the 40% barrel work adds richness but not flavour. A pleasant surprise - as I've never tasted savvie this good from Otago for a long, long time. I think it will be a humdinger this summer. 9Oct2007. 9Oct2007.

Riverby Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Very dry, crisp and fresh with upfront lime and grapefruit peel acidity balanced by a pleasing slippery softness and phenolics adding a slightly grainy 'mineral' edge. Classic gooseberry and bean flavours push their way through and the increasingly pungent citrussy finish is long bright and clean. 13.5% alc. NZ$22. 13Feb2008.

Ruby Bay SV Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Aromatic and floral on nose. Spritzy and zesty to the taste with so much upfront lemon/lime acidity, it tastes a little like Riesling. Clean, fresh, refreshing and punchy and apart from its pungent melon finish, it lacks some of the varietal expression we expect of the grape but wait ….. the varietal character of sauvignon blanc emerges and it's long and tasty. So wait and let the flavours come through. 14% alc. $20. 24Nov2007.

Sacred Hill Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc)
Bright, fruity and citrussy with summer herbs and hints of pineapple on the nose- its quite vivacious smelling and vibrant. Soft and fruity in the palate with a grainy texture and a youthful fresh brightness, its full of tropical fruit that's been squeezed with lime and zinged up with a sprinkling of coriander and basil herb. There's underlying pungent gooseberry and sweet orange emerges on the slightly musky, floral finish that's reminiscent of port wine magnolia. Light and bright in its delivery. 13% alc. $19.00. 26Aug2007.

Saint Clair Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Crammed with vibrantly aromatic passionfruit and gooseberry and lime on the nose, the aroma is reminiscent of last year's stunning Block 6. It's light lemon gold in colour and juicy and zesty in the palate with vibrant fruit, sweet pea, summer herbs and a powerful, pungent, tangy finish. 13% alc. $16.99. 8Aug2007.

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 1 'Foundation' Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) A little more restrained on the nose with gooseberry and a hint of pineapple but more obviously oily in texture with upfront gooseberry and lime, a salty citrussy tang, a dash of white pepper, a hint of capsicum and passionfruit taking over the long, juicy finish. A soft, fleshy wine, the fruit richness covers the acidity and underlying spiced apple emerges to linger. I imagine this would be excellent with salt and pepper squid, and with that apple nuance it would also be an excellent accompaniment to a roast pork cracking snack. 13% alc. $24.99. 8Aug2007.

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 2 'Swamp Block' Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc)
Emitting a signature expression of Marlborough greens on the nose , i.e. limes, beans, gooseberries and herbs, this ripe, fruit driven savvie is vibrant in its varietal expression with hints of rose petal coming into play and a lovely smooth texture that is almost creamy. There are myriads of tropical fruit, a touch of melon and a little suggestion of sweat that lingers with lime, greengage plums and passionfruit on the pungent, flavoursome, almost toasty finish. Rated high silver in my tasting, it can only get better. (Tasted the dregs a few days later, and the mouthfeel of this wine was just gorgeous.) 13% alc. $25-28. 26Aug2007.

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 3 '43 Degrees' Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Tantalising gooseberry and lime on the nose with a hint of that unique Marlborough 'sweat', it's bright, zesty and tangy to the taste with upfront citrus, tangelo peel and summer herbs then gooseberry and passionfruit on the long, focussed finish. Showing lovely purity and intensity of fruit, this exciting wine comes from the last block that Saint Clair harvested which is named 43 degrees because that is the orientation of the vine rows. 13.5% alc. $24.99 Aug2007.

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 4 'Sawcut' Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Soft, peachy aromas and spicy, citrussy, tangy flavours with gooseberry, apple, white peach and summer herbs over a dry chalky backbone with a mealiness from the yeast lees aging coming through to add softness and richness to the rounded finish. It's a little like a Sancerre wine in that it has a fumé smoky character even though it has not seen oak and also reminiscent of unoaked chardonnay in a way but the sauvignon signature of the fruit adds a punchy brightness to the finish. 13.5% alc. $24.99. 8Aug2007.

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 6 'Oh! Block' Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc)
Moderately expressive on the nose with green capsicum and melon the dominant aromas, moderation is forgotten in the vibrantly flavoured, racy palate that's hums along with lime, apple, gooseberry and summer herbs, then bursts into song with passionfruit and melon. There's a grainy, slightly chalky strum to the texture which becomes oily smooth and rich on the vivaciously pungent and powerful finish, while lime and grapefruit start to hum again on the lasting, lingering aftertaste. Despite its slightly subdued (for SB) aromas, it's undoubtably gold medal status. 12.5% alc. $25-28. 26Aug2007.

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 8 'Friar's' Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc)
Shy and aloof, the least expressive on the nose of the four Saint Clair wines in this tasting, but mouthfilling and weighty in the palate with a myriad of flavours that take one on a journey of discovery in a greengrocers store. There's bean, capsicum, pungent herbs, apples, gooseberries, limes, grapefruit and even a hint of tomato with the citrus fruit winning on the day and filling the mouth with their bittersweet flavour on the rich, toasty aftertaste. Juicy, crisp, vibrant and clean with lovely purity and definition of fruit - it misses out on gold medal points because of its overly shy redolent nature. From the Lower Wairau Road, originally known by settlers as Friar's Road. 12.5% alc. $25-28. 26Aug2007.

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 11 'Cell Block' Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc)
Citrus, herbs, tropical fruit and hints of sweat on the nose, the 'sweaty' character is much more pronounced in the unbelievably silky textured palate. This wine is just so gorgeously vibrant and tasty with melon, citrus and tropical fruit, salad herbs and a honeyed overlay to the orange and sweet grapefruit finish and then a graininess emerging on the texture on the concentrated and sweet toasty, grilled grapefruit and herb aftertaste. From the Dillon's Point area in Marlborough, this was the top wine in my 26th August blind tasting. 13% alc. $25-28. 26Aug2007.
From a distance, there's a hint of sweat amongst the vibrant tropical fruit aromas, but nuzzle closer and it's just so tantalising fresh, rich and juicy with tangelo to the fore. Lightly oily in texture with a vivacious citrussy backbone, tropical fruit abounds with a herbaceous flourish to the finish and a delicious pungency to the aftertaste. Outstandingly good with texture plus. 13% alc. $26.99. 21Nov2007.

Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) The pre-bottling sample is quite restrained on the nose with a delicate floral perfume and a hint of talc, then that distinctive sweaty character starts to emerge. Mouthfilling, rich and spicy with a silky texture, vibrant tropical fruit, gooseberry, passionfruit, hints of pineapple and sweet underlying Marlborough greens, the finish is dry and powerfully long with banana passionfruit, summer herbs and grapefruit lingering for ages. 13% alc. $31.99 8Aug2007.

Seifried Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) At first there's nettles and gooseberry on the nose but vigorous swirling finally makes the wine reveal some nectarine scents and the slightest nuance of musk. Bright, crisp and fresh with seemingly a ton of acidity on the first taste, herbaceous greens mingle with gooseberries and green apples while hints of pineapple-like tropical fruit add a balancing sweetness. The finish is dry and vivacious and when the after flavour kicks in, the mouth is filled with passionfruit. 13% alc. $18.00. 26Aug2007.

Seresin Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Pale in colour, youthful, and herbal with an initial waft of B.O. on the nose, this is bright and zesty to the taste. Upfront lime-tinged citrus gives way to more classic gooseberry and herbs with a touch of apple, tropical fruit and just a hint of tomato on the finish. Long and full with a rounded completeness. 5% Semillon adds to the blend. 40% was wild feremnted and approx 15%, including the Semillon was fermented in older oak. There's no funky wild yeast or oak flavour but these winemaking components have added a textural complexity. Becoming richer and richer with time in the glass, with hints of pineapple emerging, it's a wine that will take considerable aging. 13.5% alc. $25. 21Mar2008.

Sileni Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Bright lemony flavours with a slightly oily texture, gooseberry and tropical fruit, underlying grassiness and a softly sweet, pungent finish. 12.5% alc. $20. 4Sep2007.

Sileni 'The Straits' Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Racy and vibrant with green melon and a green apple oiliness, a touch of honey and lots of lime, this rich style traverses through a whole spectrum of delicious fruit to culminate in a powerful, pungent finish with a delicious aftertaste. 12.5% alc. $24. 4Sep2007.

Southbank Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) A little shy on nose but soon reveals it frutiness and classic Marlborough 'greens' with a touch of lime sherbet too. However seems overly astringent with a gummy texture. Straight forward, simple commercial style. 12.5% alc. $19.99. 24Nov2007.

St Jerome Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Grassy, oily and a little sweetish with underlying lemon peel acidity, this is a reasonably simple, juicy, quaffable style. 13.5% alc. 2Sep2007.

Sugar Loaf Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Gooseberries and limes on the nose and a lovely rich palate with melons, herbs, citrus and a surge of tropical fruit on the aftertaste. Ripe and pungent, it exudes palate richness and flavour. A blend of 2/3 Awatere and 1/3 Wairau Valley fruit. 13% alc. $17. 3Sep2007.
Gooseberry, lime, capsicum and tomato stem greens leap out of the glass of this water pale wine. It's ripe, soft, oily, vibrantly fruity, juicy and spicy with a crisp, grainy undercurrent, racy acidity, banana passionfruit and a hint of tobacco emerging on the tangy finish. $16.99.26Sep2007.

Sugar Loaf Founders Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Pale in colour, this pungently scented crisp, fresh, grassy wine is full of the taste of summer. It's juicy and crunchy with lime, tropical fruit, gooseberry, nectarine and zingy herbs with a vibrancy to the bright and long tasty finish. 13% alc. $18.99. 10Oct2007.

Summerhouse Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Quite herbaceous and grassy with nettle, tangy limes and grapefruit, hints of gooseberries and a passionfruit richness to the pungent finish. Crisp and refreshing, opens up beautifully. 13% alc, $21.95. 4Sep2007.

Te Mania Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Delicately citrussy on nose but loads of 'sweat' as well, it's pungent and powerful in palate with ultra-juiciness and expressive tropical fruit on finish. As the wine evolves some bean-like characters emerge, there are hints of pencil shavings and a bright citrussy backbone. Shows potential but needs time to let intricacies evolve. 13% alc. $17.95. 24Nov2007.

Te Mata Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Light yellow gold with a powerful mesmerising scent reminiscent of exotic fruits, yellow guava, stonefruit, pineapple, flower meadows, semi-dried hay and mealy yeasty funk, it's distinctly sauvignon to the taste with varietal pungency the driving force. A little grainy in texture, a touch grassy, some underlying herbaceousness, exotic tropical fruits and stonefruits with a rich, full-bodied aftertaste and barrel fermentation adding complexity, the blend is complemented by Semillon (13%) and Sauvignon Gris (2%), and 1/3 of the French oak is new. 13.5% alc. $26.99.12Mar2008.

Terrace Heights Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Crisp and bright on the nose with a touch of the famous "sweat" and tantalising Marlborough greens - think freshly mown grass, a myriad of herbs, a hint of capsicum and juicy citrus, especially limes. It's tasty, juicy and vibrantly flavoursome with pineapple adding to its lip-smacking allure, together with zesty citrus and herbs and a touch of tomato and capsicum tagging along on the persistent finish which has a chilli heat and seems quite dry. 13.5% alc. $19.95. 8Nov2007.

The Ned Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) A rich, fat style of savvie with some obvious sweetness, there's prickly pear and melon on the nose and a nice, grassy, herbaceous undercurrent to the tropical fruit flavours with a pungent and long flavoured aftertaste. 14% alc. $18. 2Sep2007.

Ti Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc)
Subtle lemon aromas with hints of gooseberry and a herbaceous sweetness, it's smooth and silky textured in the palate with a lovely combination of herbs, gooseberries, citrus and apple building to a vibrant, pungent, toasty finish with excellent length and fruit purity on the spicy, zesty, herbaceous aftertaste. The most 'minerally' in the line up with lots of greens and hints of tropical guava as it lingers. 13% alc. $19.90. 26Aug2007.

Tohu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc)
Aromas like those toasty dried apple snacks together with a touch of floral musk, which comes from ripe sauvignon blanc grapes. Soft in its attack with a lightly oily texture, the creamy richness is underpinned by a steely, 'stoney' undercurrent with a flourish of stonefruit then a touch of capsicum and apple on the crisp, lingering finish. 13% alc. $19.90. 10Nov2007.

Trinity Hill White Label Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Melon, hints of grass and tropical fruit on the nose, juicy, fresh, crisp and clean to the taste with a nice grainy texture, apple and melon fruit, nettles and a long, dry finish with hints of stonefruit and tropical fruit on the kickback. 12% alc. 2Sep2007.

Two Rivers Convergence Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Dry and crisp to start, the gravelly texture is lean and tight but it opens up with a clean, gooseberry undercurrent to the juicy, tropical fruit finish. Crisp, fresh, exciting. A blend of Wairau and Awatere Valley fruit. 13% alc. 2Sep2007.

Vavasour Redwood Pass Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Lovely lime, herb, capsicum, dried grass and tropical fruit aromas and loads of juicy fruit flavours in the sweet-fruited palate that's crammed with lime, green melon, spice, tropical fruit and a powerfully long, toasty finish. 13.5% alc. $14.99. 5Dec2007.
Bright and tasty with a ton of passionfruit and lime on the nose and a rich juicy, vibrant flavour with tropical fruit to the fore and a fresh grassy herbaceous backbone. Served chilled, it's a perfect summer drink. 13.5% alc. $14.99. 16Jan2008.

Villa Maria Private Bin Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Water pale but vibrantly fruity with bubblegum, passionfruit, gooseberry and lime aromas joined by a sherbetty, “fizzy fruit” brightness to the taste. It's young, fresh, juicy, zesty and pungent with youthful fruit esters, a slippery texture and crisp, racy acidity keeping the fruit sweetness in check. 13.5% alc. $13.99. 1Aug2007.

Wild South Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc)
Green bean and capsicum the dominant aromas at first, then a waft of 'sweat'. Oily textured with abundant gooseberry, limes, apples, capsicum and herbs and a long, warm full-bodied finish with a touch of lemon honey adding softness and sweetness to the lingering citrussy, herbaceous aftertaste. A little chalky and quite linear in its delivery. 13% alc. $17.90. 26Aug2007.

Wild South Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) There's a decent hint of gold to the bright colour of this wine. Full of tropical fruit aromas with a hint of play dough and soft, juicy tropcial fruit flavours, it seems a rather pleasing, mellow drink. Not overly pungent but long and tasty and bright and zesty with a white pepper-tinged finish that completely contradicts the initital 'soft' impression. 13.5% alc. $26.90. 24Nov2007.

Waipara Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Water pale with just the slightest hint of lemon to the hue, this is bright and pungently aromatic with tropical fruit, tangelo and gooseberry on the nose carrying through to the clean, ripe, fruit-filled palate. It's quite dry with a tongue tickling spritziness and an illusion of toastiness to the tangy finish and is as easily as good as last years multiple gold medal winner. A classy savvy that's going to be another star. 13.4% alc. $15.99. 1Aug2007.
This straw gold wine simply screams summer sun. It's long and leggy with crisp, crunchy, juicy greens across the whole sauvignon spectrum, a touch of honey in the dressing and punchy acidity keeping the flavours fresh and bright. Exotic flavours reminiscent of kiwano (horned melon) linger on the tasty finish. 13.4% alc. $15.99. 6Feb2008.

Wairau River Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Bright pungent aromas. Spritzy and zesty with a bright dancing texture. Lemon and lime, hints of apple, lots of citrus acidity, classical herbaceous undercurrent, lip smackingly fresh with a touch of tropical fruit sweeteness to the finish. 13.5% alc. NZ$19.95. 24Nov2007.

Whitehaven "Greg" Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Powerful, rich and pungent with passionfruit, lime, a citrussy sweetness and a garden of fragrant summer herbs, this bright, expressive, punchy sauvignon blanc is a blend of Rapaura, Brancott and Kekerengu fruit - the latter location being halfway between Blenheim and Kaikoura. It's dedicated to Whitehaven's founder, Greg White. 13% alc. $18.99.26Sep2007.

Woollaston Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (sc) Full of juicy fruit, herbs, a touch of spearmint, chalky tannins, an explosion of hot fruity brightness and great pungency to the finish. A wine of balance and harmony and even though from Nelson it's a classic 'old fashioned' Marlborough style with lots of greens. 13% alc. $18. 24Nov2007.