Ask Joelle: New Zealand’s best sauvignon blancs
Ask Joelle: New Zealand’s best sauvignon blancs
Dear Joelle
I have been asked to purchase a couple of New Zealand’s “best sauvignon blancs” to take to overseas business clients in Malaysia. However, if there were an ABSB (Anything But Sauvignon Blanc) club, as opposed to an ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) club, I would be a fully paid-up member. Hence, I am desperate for advice. What would you recommend? Price is no barrier, though I don’t think sauvignon blancs usually command huge prices, so I’m probably safe there.
Angela, Auckland
Dear Angela
Top New Zealand sauvignon blancs make regular appearances in MiNDFOOD and on mindfood.com. On my own “best of” list the leading light is Cloudy Bay’s eponymous Te Koko, which redefines Down Under savvy. This wine’s big body makes it appear almost chardonnay-like – not that I’m trying to put you off here – and its fresh zing adds zesty appeal. Te Koko is a sauvignon blanc to end all preconceptions about this varietal sometimes being simple. Te Koko is complex in taste and complex in its making – hand-picked, barrel fermented, wild yeast fermented and partially put through malolactic conversion (converting hard malic acids to softer lactic ones). See my other top sauvignon blanc recommendations below.
Joelle
Email your wine questions to Joelle Thomson: [email protected].
Cloudy Bay Te Koko RRP $58
I had a five-year-old version of this wine a few months ago and it proved to me, once again, that this is the leader of the sauvignon blanc pack in New Zealand. It was sublime.
Dog Point Section 94 RRP $30
A quirky style departure for Marlborough sauvignon blanc, this wine has pretty flavours and incredibly lingering length of taste in each mouthful.
Church Road RRP $24
Hawkes Bay’s warm climate is responsible for this seductively soft, fruit-driven, bone-dry sauvignon blanc. I like it a lot.