Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2011, the new release

The world’s most famous Sauvignon Blanc has had a few rocky years, but I reckon the 2011 is right back on form. This is a bity expensive compared with its peer group, but it’s really tasty. And it has that fabulous label. So stylish. I grew up with this wine, so it still has a [...]

Touraine Sauvignon Blanc seems to rock

Been very impressed with the recent Touraine Sauvignon Blancs I’ve tried. The Loire fights back! Here are three that I’ve enjoyed over the last couple of days.

Famille Bougrier Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Loire
Very fresh, precise and lively with lovely grapefruit and citrus character. Precise with a real zip to it. Nicely aromatic with good acidity [...]

Visiting Constantia (2): Steenberg

The second visit in Constantia was Steenberg. Part of the Graham Beck empire, they are one of South Africa’s most celebrated producers, especially well known for their whites (including Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, Semillon and Magna Carta). We met with general manager John Loubser (above) and winemaker JD Pretorius (below).

After tasting some young wines, we had [...]

Seven Springs: an interesting new South African Sauvignon

Seven Springs is a new South African producer, located just outside the current boundaries of the Hemel en Aarde region near Hermanus. This is their debut wine, one of just 4400 bottles of Sauvignon Blanc. Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Noir are to follow. British couple Tim and Vaughan Pearson are behind Seven Springs, and winemaking [...]

Two good Kiwi wines from Villa Maria

Very impressed by this pair by Villa Maria, one of New Zealand’s most consistent producers.

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2009 Marlborough
Seriously seductive Pinot. Sweet cherry and berry fruit with fresh herb and mineral notes, as well as subtle meatiness. The palate is ripe and sweetly fruited, yet supple and fresh with nice acidity, sour [...]

One of South Africa's top Sauvignons

South Africa is doing some great things with Sauvignon Blanc these days. Here’s a superb example from De Grendel, in the Durbanville region, near Cape Town.

De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Coastal Region, South Africa
13.5% alcohol. Highly aromatic, with striking notes of lime, chalk, minerals and flint, with fine green pepper notes. The palate is concentrated [...]

Brancott's New 'Icon' Sauvignon Blanc

I didn’t have as much time as I’d have liked at the New Zealand trade tasting today, but I’m glad that Patrick Materman (above) grabbed me to pour an exciting new Sauvignon Blanc into my glass.

Patrick is the chief winemaker at Pernod Ricard’s Brancott Estate (formerly Montana), and for the last few years has been [...]

Montana/Brancott: what are they doing with this brand?

Popped in to Asda today, and saw the Brancott Estate/Montana Estate Sauvignon Blanc at half price, just £4.24.

Montana Sauvignon Blanc was one of the strongest wine brands. It was the archetypal Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, and in my time I have drunk quite a bit of it.

But Pernod Ricard decided they wanted to have a uniform [...]

Iona Sauvignon: one of South Africa's best

One of the many highlights of my recent South African trip was a visit to the cool-climate region of Elgin, where we were hosted by Andrew and Rozy Gunn at Iona. Their 2010 Sauvignon is quite brilliant, and so it was nice to have a chance to try it again here in the UK.

Iona Sauvignon [...]

A serious Sauvignon: Greywacke, from Marlborough, New Zealand

This is good. It’s a serious Sauvignon Blanc from Greywacke (pronounced ‘grey-wacky’), which is the label of Kevin Judd, ex-Cloudy Bay.

Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Marlborough, New Zealand
13.5% alcohol. From the Wairau and Southern Valleys, this has a lively mineral and grapefruit nose. It’s quite exotic, with freshness and a bit of fruit sweetness. The palate [...]