Sav Blanc tasting January 17/01/2004

Light colour with tinges of peachy straw. The Nose was quite powerful and even more tropical than typical Marlborough Savy. The nose exhibited passion fruit , red capsicum and traditional Goosebury. The texture of this wine was a surprise because it was much more mouth filling than I usually associate with Marlb Sav Blanc. Good length and lovely well defined finish. 96 points

Yet more great NZ SB you Kiwis are too stingy to send across the pond to your buddies here in the good ol US of A.

The US is listed with them as an exporter.....I just don't know where?

I did a wine-searcher. The only 2003s are still in NZ or 1 retailer in UK. There are about 5-6 that carry this in the US but they only have the 2002s listed. Patience.

We tasted over two hundred sav blancs, but I have only listed those that list the US as a market. So these should be all available Stateside. Finger crossed.

Thanks for all the TNs Jeremy. Looking forward to my summer drinkers.

Man, I keep having to think warm thoughts on days like today.Brrrrrrr

Wow, can't wait to see this one in the store (and I thought the Forefathers was good). I have typically seen this one at my local Costco in the past so I will keep my eyes open for it. Thanks for the reviews, I would say any more that NZ Sauv Blancs account for at least 75% of my white wine drinking.

Jeremy you state there were over 200 SB's you tasted and you only put the ones that are available in the US on the board? I see 9 posted are there really that many NZ SB's available only in NZ? Man I can only dream how good they are as I love many of the ones we get here.

Calcabs,

Mostly you do get them but I only posted the 85+ pointers that were available. Cloudy Bays Te Koko was also tasted scoring 96 points, but that doesn't leave the country. Others that scored well but aren't available statside.

- Morton Marlborough Reserve 2003-92 points
- Cable Bay Waiheke Sav Blanc 2003- 91 points (will be available in the US by 2005)
- Nga Waka 2003 91 points (not sure if this gets stateside or not)- very stelly sav blanc

And many others.

Jeremy - The Nga Waka is available here as well thanks.

I just had a rep bring this wine in today. It was excellent. 91 pts from me. I like Cloudy Bay better, but not much else from NZ is better, IMO.

jb

Cairnbrae was sold to Sacred Hill a couple of years back, and Tony Bish (the Winemaker) has been doing amazing things with the grapes he gets from Cairnbrae. The pinot gris, the riesling and the merlot are all worth looking at.

Findly saw this on a shelf here and promptly picked one up and brought home for last nights dinner. Jeremy I would concur this is a excellent wine and better than the Forefathers by a couple of points. I am consistent with you as to order but a little lower on points I would give this wine 93pts. Great intensity, mouth filling tropical flavors with a hint of pepper and great mouth watering finish. At $10 this now becomes my new house white and with a screw top even better.

I bought 8 bottles of the '03 Cairnbrae yesterday at the WDC for $12.99 a bottle. This will be the house patio wine for us this summer (if they last that long).

Aromas of pine, herbs, and citrus. On the palate, this wine has a wave-like momentum that crests with surge of flinty peach and limestone on the finish. Medium-bodied, with decent acidity. The best '03 NZ Sauv Blanc that I have tried this year, including Cloudy Bay. 90-91P.

In fact, my wife said "this reminds me of how Cloudy Bay used to taste 8 years ago". I wouldn't go that far, but I can see where's she's coming from.

Cheers,

Otis

I had the 2002 and was favorably impressed. I will keep my eyes open for the 03's.

Have been opening these consistently, probably 1 or 2 a week for the past couple of months. Very consistent, the fruit is not as prominent on the more recent bottles but conversely this wine has a nice sort of minerally flavor two it. I would probably rate them a touch lower than my initial bottle but still in the low 90's.