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2008 St Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc |
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Written by Craig Thomson
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2008 St Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. It would be fair to say that over the last few years this wine has edged its way, in most people’s minds, into the position of New Zealand’s leading Sauvignon Blanc. It always shows a bit more restraint and class than most. The newly released 2008 vintage is a rare beast on the back of a variable Marlborough vintage. A night in Taupo with friends gave us the excuse to buy a bottle of this to try.
 The nose is massively aromatic with huge wafts of capsicum, green chillie, gooseberry, nettles, basil and lemongrass. The palate is restrained, gentle and multifaceted with concentrated gooseberry, snow pea, chillie and red capsicum in the core surrounded by whisps of dry grass like suggestions. As usual this isn’t as exhuberant as the more obvious block wines. A lovely elegant wine. Comparisons to last years effort will of course be made. I tend to feel last years wine had more wow factor. Also I would have to say I think the Astrolabe Awatere Sauvignon Blanc (which is very much in the same style even given it is sourced in a different valley) may have the edge. Lets be clear though, this is good stuff. 96/109
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