Martinborough Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008 from New Zealand
Few wines put a quenching squirt on summer heat like a crisp sauvignon blanc. But so many, especially those increasingly popular bottles from New Zealand, go overboard with a sour citrus punch that can taste like a truckload of grapefruit in your glass. A
Few wines put a quenching squirt on summer heat like a crisp sauvignon blanc. But so many, especially those increasingly popular bottles from New Zealand, go overboard with a sour citrus punch that can taste like a truckload of grapefruit in your glass. A small measure of restraint and balance, then, is exactly what drew me to this refreshing 2008 New Zealander from Martinborough Vineyard. It still has a bracing citrus edge, but it's woven into riper exotic fruits - pineapple and guava - that round the flavor, along with a touch of oak, lending this sauvignon a fuller richness to pair well with food.
It was just perfect for a plate of grilled shrimp and white beans. And with a $7 Pennsylvania discount off the $20 list price, it's also an easy deal. Be sure to check for supplies before heading out to your local State Store - inventory on this bottle is more abundant in the suburbs.
- Craig LaBan
Martinborough Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (code: 18335) available for $12.99 in select Pennsylvania wine stores.