Jean-Claude Debeaune "Special Selection" Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Jean-Claude Debeaune "Special Selection" Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Origin: Pays d'Oc, France
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light yellow with significant tints of green, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit — mango, banana, pineapple — with just a hint of spice (vanilla). Rather crisp on the palate, the flavor profile is similar to that of the nose, with maybe some green apple blended in. The finish is slightly astringent with a bit of an earthy character.

Our rating: This is an interesting example of this varietal. We enjoyed our bottle with grilled fish fillets, with which it paired nicely, though possibly not as well as some of the more citrusy examples from New Zealand or Chile. We think Asian cuisines might be a better pairing overall. The finish was a bit disharmonious, lowering it score a bit, but still we rate it Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Forever Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Forever Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Origin: Monterey, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Straw in color with gold highlights, this wine has aromas of lemon and citrus zest, with fainter notes of grass and tree fruit, notably pears. The initial sensation on the palate is one of sweetness but that is rapidly replaced with a rounded citrus character, not quite tart but not sweet either. There isn't much of a finish.

Our rating: This is an unusual example of a California Sauvignon Blanc. It has received no oak yet it has a softness that gives it depth. It is really quite flavorful, but the flavors vanish almost as quickly as they develop. We enjoyed our bottle with simply prepared chicken, which in terms of protein we think is the right choice here, though we're guessing it would have been better had it been an Asian-inspired meal. We can also see serving it at a brunch, where a variety of foods might be available. The bottom line is, it's quite versatile, more so than with many others from this region. We rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Beautifully balanced with flavors of lemon, citrus and pear. Aromas of lemon meringue and grapefruit carry through to the palate for a juicy finish. Pairs perfectly with fruits, cheeses, seafood and poultry.

Winery website: Forever Vineyards.

Porta Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Porta Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Bio Bio Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $6.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Lemon yellow in color with straw highlights, this wine has aromas of citrus (grapefruit), tropical fruit (mango), and lemongrass with faint notes of orange blossom. The fruit flavors are very smooth and nicely blended on the palate, dissipating slowly and leaving a relatively soft, slate-like minerality in their place, which is accompanied by a hint of citrus zest.

Our rating: This is a very nice wine that evokes images of a candelit dinner, with whitefish and asparagus grilled with a bit of olive oil and served on elegant china. OK, so we're getting a little carried away with our imagery here, but this we did enjoy this wine with the referenced meal, if minus the candles and china. We've come to be partial to Chilean Sauvignon Blancs, and this one is a very good example of such. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent, the same rating we applied to the 2009 vintage.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Brilliant light greenish-gold in color with a zesty bouquet of lime and gooseberries. The palate is full of appetizing and lively fruit flavors, and the finish is clean and refreshing.

Winery website: Porta Winery • Chile.

flipflop Sauvignon Blanc NV

flipflop Sauvignon Blanc NV

Origin: Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $5.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light lemon yellow in color, this wine has aromas of freshly squeezed lemons and lemon zest with faint notes of tropical fruit. The palate is similar, reminiscent of lemonade, with crisp tartness a good acidic balance. The finish is clean, though relatively brief.

Our rating: The "flipflop" concept to this brand suggests this is a casual wine and we agree: it does have a light, summer, fun character to it. Versatile enough to accompany almost any cuisine, we'd suggest pairing it with something cooked outdoors, such as grilled chicken or shrimp, and vegetable kabobs. Or maybe something a bit more adventurous, like kielbasa. It's a simple, straight-forward wine, nothing too fancy but, then again, it's not intended to be. We rate it Above Average … and certainly one of the better examples of this varietal at this price point.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Light-bodied, aromatic Sauvignon Blanc with exuberant grapefruit and key lime notes, and a zesty, refreshing finish.

Winery website: flipflop: to each, their own.

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: June 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Pale silver-straw in color with green highlights, this wine has strong aromas of citrus (grapefruit, lime), lemongrass, and orange zest. The acidity from the citrus fruit flavors is nicely balanced on the palate, crisp but not tart. The grassiness initially present evolves into a more mineral character on the finish, which is lengthy.

Our rating: This wine is very typical of a New Zealand crafting of this varietal, though better than most. The harsh edges that could have been dominant are nicely softened here, resulting in a well structured wine. We paired our bottle with freshly grilled whitefish, something we usually do with Sauvignon Blancs, and found it a very nice match, though we think it could be served with most any seafood or dishes that have a significant vegetable element to them. We previously rated the 2009 vintage Excellent and the 2010 vintage Above Average to Excellent; we think the present wine is just between the two, but scores slightly closer to the latter.

Taste profile from the winemaker: The wine possesses a light straw colour and tropical aromas of citrus and white peach. The palate exhibits the same fine flavours followed by a crisp, dry, flinty finish.

Winery website: Clifford Bay: New Zealand Wine.

Concannon "Selected Vineyards" Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Concannon "Selected Vineyards" Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Origin: Central Coast, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (98%), Riesling (2%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: June 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Straw in color with silver highlights, this wine has aromas of lemongrass and sweet bell pepper with citrus zest and vegetal (asparagus) notes. Light-bodied on the palate with a very slight creamy texture, the flavors are similar to the nose, with a somewhat more pronounced tart citrus character. The finish is very clean, adds some minerality, and is of moderate length.

Our rating: There are several interesting aspects to this wine. It's tart yet not quite crisp. There is considerable depth to the flavors yet they seem light, almost airy. These aren't negative qualities by any means; the complexity exhibited here is rather difficult to describe in simple terms. And yet it's not quite harmonious, though it's hard to pin down exactly why. We think this wine would pair well with most seafood dishes; we would lean more towards fish fillets or steaks than shellfish. We previously rated the Concannon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Average; we rate the present wine a bit better, Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: This wine has a brilliant straw hue with notes of gooseberry. The palate is slightly tropical with a good depth of fruit. Cool stainless steel fermentation keeps the flavors bright and lively, and the medium body is slightly rounded in feel, leading to a crisp finish.

Winery website: Concannon Vineyards.

Smart Cookie Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Smart Cookie Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2012
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Golden straw in color, this wine has typical varietal aromas of gooseberry, green pepper and citrus zest with just a hint of orange blossoms. Very smooth on the palate, the citrus flavors are very well balanced, slightly tart with a touch of vegetal sweetness. Some grassiness is present in the persistent finish.

Our rating: We often serve Sauvignon Blancs with seafood, in particular grilled or broiled whitefish filets, but we have to confess this bottle didn't make it to the table. It is absolutely delicious and we enjoyed it while preparing dinner, somewhat surprising ourselves that when it came time to sit down there was none left. That was our loss, as we believe it would have paired beautifully with the meal. Clearly it works just fine on its own, and we think it would pair well with most light dishes. Striking all the right notes in all the right ways, we rate it Excellent, one of the best of this varietal we've had in a long time.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Bright and zesty with aromas of freshly baked lemon cookies. Citrus and tropical fruit flavors fill your palate and finishes refreshingly long.

Winery website: None found.

Doña Paula "Los Cardos" Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Doña Paula "Los Cardos" Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Grassy, citrusy aromas are exhibited by this straw-gold wine; there is also an unexpected hint of flowers present. The citrus flavors on the palate are crisp and quickly develop a significant tartness. The finish adds a touch of slate minerality as it retains much of the wine's tart character.

Our rating: We probably mispaired this wine, serving it with grilled chicken when we probably should have chosen grilled halibut. It is quite tart, almost one note tart, when a little balance is called for. Food seems to help soften it a bit, but not much. We previously rated the Doña Paula Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Above Average, but we didn't enjoy this vintage as much, rating it just Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Pale yellow color. Very intense aromas of passion fruit, grapefruit, lime, and white peach. In the mouth, this is a fresh, balanced, highly vivacious and persistent wine.

Winery website: Doña Paula Argentina.

Bogle Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Bogle Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Monterey and Russian River Valley, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A very pale gold in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (peaches, pears, apricots), some citrus and flowers. The palate exhibits flavors of crisp green apple, cider and herbs. The finish is of moderate length and depth and well balanced.

Our rating: Even though there was some cripsness to the palate, this wine reminded us of a softer version of a French Sauvignon Blanc — a nice achievement as this wine received no oak cellaring. We typically choose seafood or grilled chicken to serve with this varietal, and believe these are appropriate here as well, though it would pair just as nicely with a chef's salad. We previously rated the Bogle Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Above Average and believe this vintage rates just about the same.

Taste profile from the winemaker: The first scents include lemon zest and freshly mowed grass with clean and refreshing crispness of the citrus fruit paired with just a tiny hint of spring sweet peas. The mouthfeel, bracing with acidity, remains laced with touches of richer tropical pineapple fruit. Finishing lean and satisfying.

Winery website: Bogle Vineyards.

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Pale gold with silver highlights, this wine has aromas of grapefruit, gooseberry, and grass with notes of green vegetables and herbs. The citrus flavor on the palate is crisp but not tart, followed by a slight but brisk minerality that develops into the finish. The finish itself is a little flat and ever so slightly bitter.

Our rating: This is a refined wine with good structure and balance. Very typical of this varietal from New Zealand, it is moderately aggressive but doesn't cross any boundaries. We served our bottle with simply prepared white fish, a nice choice. We were slightly disappointed in the finish, which some might consider "racy" but reminded us of citrus zest used in excess. We previously rated the Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Excellent and the present vintage is close but doesn't quite deserve the same rating; we rate it Above Average, Nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: The wine possesses a light straw colour and tropical aromas of guava, melon and citrus. The palate exhibits the same fine flavours followed by a crisp, dry, flinty finish.

Winery website: Clifford Bay: New Zealand Wine.

Terranoble Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Terranoble Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Central Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A pale greenish-yellow in color, this wine has very strong aromas of freshly cut tropical fruit (pineapple, mango, banana) with slight citrus notes. The citrus makes more of an appearance on the palate, which is crisp and fairly tart though a little thin on flavor. The finish adds some citrus zest and is moderately long.

Our rating: Chile continues to distinguish itself by crafting Sauvignon Blancs in a very approachable manner, and different from its cousins in France, New Zealand, and the US. This example is typical of the region, maybe not one of its better efforts, but very drinkable and readily paired with a wide variety of cuisines. We would suggest seafood as a first choice with which to serve this wine, but it is by no means limited to this. We rate it a bit better than Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: An attractive pale yellow color with greenish tones, it has intense aromas of tropical fruits, especially pineapple. Is a very fresh wine, dry and equilibrated. It has a good structure and a nice natural acidity which has a long permanence in mouth.

Winery website: None found.

Dry Creek Fumé Blanc 2010

Dry Creek Fumé Blanc 2010

Origin: Sonoma County, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: This wine has light aromas of citrus, bell pepper and asparagus. The palate exhibits a similar flavor profile, maybe leaning a bit towards the citrus (grapefruit, lime). A slight minerality develops into the relatively brief finish.

Our rating: We are often a bit suspicious of California Sauvignon Blancs, especially those marketed as "fumé blancs", as these tend to be so overly oaked that they are almost undrinkable. But this wine "harkens back to the early days of Fumé Blanc at Dry Creek Vineyard" and received no oak … and it shows … and we appreciate it. We served our bottle with a meal of grilled chicken and asparagus, a good choice. We think it could pair well with most simply prepared poultry, seafood, or vegetarian dishes. We faulted it for being a little thin and lacking depth, but overall, we rate it well Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: At first swirl, pungent grassy aromas framed by kaffir limes leap from the glass. On the palate, the wine displays racy citrus characters along with granny smith apples, Meyer lemon and orange zest. The grassy elements repeat on the finish with acidity that is both refreshing and brisk.

Winery website: Dry Creek Vineyard.

Château de la Bouyère Bordeaux Blanc 2010

Château de la Bouyère Bordeaux Blanc 2010

Origin: France
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (80%), Semillon (20%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A light golden yellow in color, this wine has mild aromas of tropical fruit with notes of citrus and citrus flowers. There is a nice balance of acidity to the dry-ish fruit flavors on the palate, though the acidity does increase a bit into the finish, which has, somewhat paradoxically, an interesting softness to it.

Our rating: This is a very nice wine, one with some simple elements to it yet seems complex at the same time. Perfectly adequate for sipping on the deck watching the sunset, it improves a bit when consumed with food. We would suggest lighter fare — broiled chicken or white fish filets with steamed vegetables, for example — or possibly as an accompaniment to an appetizer platter. We rate it on the very high side of Above Average, and for the price we paid, a very good value.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Lovely pale golden colour with a little hints of green. This wine has an expressive nose and offers fragrances of citrus fruits that evolve towards nuances of tropical fruits. Besides the initial aromas already perceived by the nose, the mouth is harmonious and fruity. It delivers a great amplitude and roundness to the wine due to the ageing on fine lees.

Winery website: None found.

Fire Road Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Fire Road Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2011
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A pale greenish-gold in color, this wine has aromas of gooseberry and lemongrass with very pleasing notes of tropical fruit. A hint of sweetness can be tasted initially on the palate, but it is followed almost immediately by a nicely balanced citrus tartness that also has considerable herbal character. The finish adds some minerality, but is otherwise not remarkable.

Our rating: This is a very nice example of this varietal from New Zealand. We typically enjoy our Sauvignon Blancs with seafood, but instead chose to serve this wine with a vegetarian meal. Seafood is probably the best pairing, but it seems versatile enough to go well with most dishes. And though it has absolutely no bearing on what's instead, we very much liked the striking label on the dark bottle. Overall, we rate this wine Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: A lifted nose showing aromas of gooseberry, passionfruit, kiwi and underlying herbal notes. A light-bodied dry, crisp wine with typical Marlborough flavors of gooseberry, stone fruit and nettles with a mouthwatering acidity, leading to a long lingering finish. An ideal wine with fresh seafood or white meat. (From the distributor's website.)

Winery website: None found.

La Petits Sarments Sauvignon Blanc 2010

La Petits Sarments Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: France
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2011
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A pale lemon yellow in color, this wine has aromas of citrus and lemongrass with slight herbal or vegetal notes. Crisp and light on the palate, the fruit flavors are very citrusy but not overly tart or acidic. A hint of minerality appears into the finish, which is of moderate length.

Our rating: We guessed right and decided to serve this wine as an aperitif that extended later into finger food-type appetizers. (It was too nice of a day to fix a proper meal!) The wine is light and versatile enough to pair with a wide variety of foods, and is probably best enjoyed as we did, or with a crisp green salad with tomatoes. We very much enjoyed this wine, and rate it on the very high side of Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Castle Rock Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Castle Rock Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Origin: Mendocino County, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: September 2011
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Pale straw in color with gold and green highlights, this wine has aromas of ruby grapefruit and tropical fruit with faint herbal, maybe grassy notes. The palate is fairly soft, with flavors of citrus fruit accompanied by some minerality. The finish adds some lemon zest character and is slightly astringent.

Our rating: This wine seems to lack refinement, an odd mix of styles typically associated with other regions, even other varietals. We're guessing that it was cellared for some time in oak, which would account for its softness, and if so, it also seems to have left it rather unbalanced. Maybe murky is a better description. Consuming with food seems to improve it slightly, and it's entirely possible that it is simply too old; we generally don't purchase vintages more than two years old, but somehow this slipped by us. Overall we weren't impressed and rate it Below Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker for this vintage found.

Winery website: Castle Rock Winery. The bottle image of this wine differs slightly from the one we reviewed.

BrisAndes Sauvignon Blanc 2010

BrisAndes Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Casablanca Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: August 2011
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A very pale greenish-gold in color, this wine has aromas of citrus, gooseberry and lemongrass. The citrus flavors are tart on the palate, almost exceedingly so, and aren't balanced until well into the very lengthy finish, at which time some minerality is introduced.

Our rating: We didn't care much for this wine, which seemed to lack focus. True, it has all the characteristics of this varietal and is created largely in what we consider to be a typical Chilean style, but it seemed all over the map. Not the best way to describe a wine, we know, but that's our overall impression. We served our bottle with chicken and vegetable wraps, not a bad pairing, considering. Simple is probably better here in terms of matching foods. We rate it, however, just Below Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: The color is clear with nice green reflections, the nose exhibiting traditional and "savage" aromas of Sauvignon Blanc: boxwood and exotic fruit (pineapple and lime). On the palate fresh, very juicy with good persistence and expression as well as balance. (From the label.)

Winery website: None found.

Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2011
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Straw in color with gold highlights, this wine has aromas of citrus and lemongrass with just a hint of boxwood. Quite smooth on the palate, the tartness of the citrus is well balanced with tropical fruit-like flavors. The finish continues the profile from the palate, though is somewhat muted.

Our rating: We enjoyed the complexity exhibited by this wine. True, it has all the characteristics that are typical of this varietal from New Zealand, but there is a lot of subtlety here as well. We served our bottle with a meal of pan-seared tuna and asparagus, a very nice pairing, though we think it versatile enough to go with most any seafood dish. We previously rated the 2008 vintage Above Average, but this year's effort is superior to that. We rate it Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: None

Winery website: Allan Scott Family Winemakers. Having already moved on to 2011, the website does not mention the 2010 vintage of this wine.

Anakena Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Anakena Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Central Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2011
Purchase Price: $6.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A light citrus scent with hints of lemongrass and orange zest are exhibited by this pale straw-colored wine. There is some initial citrus tartness, but it is quickly balanced by a mild tropical fruit flavor.

Our rating: We've been fans of this wine label for some time now, having previously enjoyed the 2006, 2007, and 2008 vintages, as well as one of its higher priced sister labels, the 2009 Anakena Indo Sauvignon Blanc. This 2010 vintage is comparable, in that it is incredibly food friendly, pairing well with most any dish and probably most particularly Asian cuisines. Still, we think it isn't quite as good as in the past — primarily due to the somewhat odd finish here — and rate it Above Average. Nevertheless, we continue to recommend the wine as a candidate for everyday consumption.

Taste profile from the winemaker: A crisp pale gold Sauvignon Blanc, with intense notes of white peach, pineapple and citrus. On the palate it is fresh, and with a pleasant finish. Delicious with chicken salad, white fish and light appetizers.

Winery website: Anakena: Roots of the Andes.

Villa Maria "Private Bin" Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Villa Maria "Private Bin" Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2011
Purchase Price: $10.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Greenish-gold in color with silver highlights, this wine has aromas of citrus, gooseberry, and lemongrass with faint herbal notes. Crisp on the palate, the fruit flavors are tart and tend towards freshly cut grapefruit. The finish includes some minerality.

Our rating: There is no mistaking that this varietal wine with its characteristic style is from New Zealand, but it's a very approachable example. And for a wine that can be said to be "crisp", it's also very "smooth". This is one of our favorites from the region, and we typically serve it with simply prepared white fish filets. But it would also pair well with most any vegetarian dish, especially an Asian-inspired one. We have previously rated the 2006 vintage and 2009 vintage Excellent, and are pleased to say that this current vintage also merits this rating.

Taste profile from the winemaker: This vibrant Sauvignon Blanc is bursting with a fruit-salad-bowl of flavours including ripe gooseberry, passionfruit, fresh citrus lime and exotic herbaceous aromas. The wine has an exciting palate with layers of juicy flavours, intensity and fullness, finishing with a refreshing crisp, clean and racy acidity.

Winery website: Villa Maria Estate.