Alex Kitayama

9.2

In the middle of dog days of summer, when the late afternoon sun is blazing and the breeze is heavy with humidity, opening a chilled bottle of crisp, fruity and zesty Sauvignon Blanc is too great a temptation to resist.

I have to admit, though, I'm a newbie to this grape variety. As a regular reds drinker and a big fan of Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc never ranked high on my list. Things changed last late summer, when I encountered the beautiful bottle of Cloudy Bay from Marlborough on the South Island of New Zealand. It opened my eyes, not to mention my palate.

Since then, I usually choose NZ Sauvignon Blanc over those from Pouilly-Fume and Sancerre in the Loire Valley, France, especially in the summer months.

The classic French examples tend to be more elegant and creamy thanks to oak barrel fermentation and aging. Its flinty aroma, a gift of the terroir, is world-renown. On the other hand, the NZ Sauvignon Blanc is more expressive, showing off its lively aromas loaded with fresh fruit flavors, successfully retained by fermentation in stainless steel or concrete vat. This style of Sauvignon Blanc has set itself apart from its French cousins and put New Zealand on the map.

I've opened four different NZ Sauvignon Blanc, all from Marlborough, around the C$19 range over the last few weeks, including Villa Maria Cellar Selection 2016, Momo 2015, Kim Crawford 2016 and Astrolabe Province 2016. Among them, I like Villa Maria the most.

The pungent aroma with white peach, nectarine, passion fruit, gooseberry, lime and grape fruit is just intoxicating.

The first sip is almost like biting into a juicy, underripe white peach and Granny Smith apple, followed by zesty grapefruit and gooseberry, and then a slice of passion fruit kicks in. The hint of grass and crushed rock definitely adds another layer of complexity. Then the vibrant flavor lingers with a subtle green pepper note.

I paired with a wide range of dishes. The wine's refreshing sweetness and zest beautifully enhanced the spicy kick of Thai green curry and the cheesiness of margarita pizza. It nicely complemented grilled salmon and a big bowl of salad thanks to its crispness and subtle herbal note and minerality.

Still, this is a perfect summer wine to drink solo. As the glaring sun slowly goes down, a glass of Sauvignon Blanc guarantees to quench the thirst on a warm midsummer's evening. Cheers! — 8 years ago

Janine Carter

Cellar Door Manager, Voyager Estate

9.1

Big fan of this style Marl SB. Green vegetable characters, tomato stalk, slight passionfruit but not the tropical fruit bomb. Interesting and enjoyable. — 11 years ago

Felicity Swaffer

9.1

Delicious — 12 years ago

Nathan Wegener

9.4

Love this Marlborough Sav Blanc. Beautifully balanced sweet stone fruit and tangy acidity. — 9 years ago

Wojciech Bońkowski

Bloger bonkowshi.me

9.1

Morning sea breeze to wake you up. — 10 years ago

Deborah Heath

9.0

The Laurent family in Gaillac, SW France, launched their vineyard in 1982. Committed to native grapes, like this sparkling #Mauzac, and minimal intervention. Carefully made, lively, balanced wine. @ Vinaviva Salon, Tours, France — 11 years ago

Miss Vicky Wine (Anne-Victoire Monrozier)

Sales Miss Vicky Wine

9.3

Silky, full bodies but still easy drinking. It has good audits, dark plum fresh flavours and opens on ripe red fruits and spices. #newzealand #amsterdam - Dewandelaar — 12 years ago

Richard List

9.2

Delicious sauvignon blanc with mouth watering notes of tropical fruit. — 10 years ago

Tom Elliot

Founder Northwest Wines

8.9

Fine Chenin character in. Rich textural style. — 10 years ago

Kelsey Miner

8.9

Tied for first with astrolabe — 10 years ago

Bob Halifax

9.0

A long way for a BC guy to go for a Pinot Gris. Tasty journey though. — 12 years ago

Felicity Swaffer

9.6

Loved this...balanced, smooth, great depth, with hints of vanilla and blackberry. 9 euros a bottle. — 12 years ago