Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

$19-21

If there’s ever a wine you want to get for your blind tasting, NZ Sauvignon Blanc is it. Sauv Blanc from New Zealand has a very distinct and pungently powerful aroma – kindly referred to by the French as ‘pee pee le chat’.  The amazingly reliable Villa Maria knows their stuff – making no less than 6 different Sauvignon Blancs each vintage – each highlighting a different area or vineyard.  

Fruit for this wine - their Private Bin bottling - was sourced from vineyards in the Wairau and Awatere Valleys, in the Marlborough region. This assertively flavoured style explodes with vibrant gooseberry, juicy passionfruit and tropical fruit aromas.  On the palate, clean, crisp citrus flavours – grapefruit, lime, lemon – rule, joined by zippy minerality and grassy notes. Fresh, fresh, fresh!  Learn this wine and you’ll never miss a NZ Sauv Blanc on your blind tasting again.  

Best drunk when young (the wine, not you).  Pair with early season halibut in a lemon herb crust.

New Zealand is one of the Regional Themes (along with Argentina) of this year’s Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, April 19-25, 2010.  In its 32nd year, Playhouse is one of the biggest and oldest wine events in the world, offering something for every level of wine drinker, collector and trade professional. Winery principals (winemaker, proprietor, senior executive) from selected wineries and countries will be in attendance to pour and discuss their wines.   www.playhousewinefest.com .

*Watch for Treve’s daily blogs from Playhouse 2010. 

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By Treve Ring – online wine editor