Review: Wairau River 2011 Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is to me, the quintessential, perfect summer drinking wine and I seem to be finding more and more and more bottles I love! This bottle from Wairau River is definitely one of them.

The color on this wine was quite clear, with a hint of yellow/green. The nose was clean, crisp, fruit forward and in my notes, I wrote "Yum!", an indicator that I was really looking forward to the first sip.

Upon first sip, I found notes of citrus, strong pineapple, lemon, mango and papaya, with very bold flavor!! Smooth and strong fruit flavors, this was delicious! On a side note, I love the label; incredibly elegant, beautiful and modern, a good selling point when serving it at a dinner party (you want the bottle to look good on the table!).

One thing I tend to do with blancs is drink them a bit under-chilled. I think it is the best way to really discover the layers of the wine, because when it is too cold, the flavors all melds together. This wine was absolutely wonderful at room temperature, a testament to the fact it doesn't need to hide behind the chill.

Usually I write about day two on the wines, and how they have evolved and developed after 24 hours exposed to air, but this one didn't make it that far; it was gone the first night (I had help!). For the incredible price, this wine is highly recommended! And if you buy it at Total Wine & More, 6 bottles or more will get you an additional 10% off, making this $9 a bottle...a steal!

Notes:
ABV: 13.5%
Vintage: 2012

Price: $9.99
Website: www.wairauriverwines.com

History & Notes: Established in 1978, the Rose family estate vineyards are situated on the banks of the Wairau (why-raow) River. Careful crop control ensures ripe fruit, producing wine that has become renowned for exhibiting intense fruit aromas and classical elegance.
Environmental Notes: Wairau River is carboNZero certified and symbolizes the company's commitment to environmental sustainability. This means that they reduced their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through energy-efficient initiatives and investment in verified mitigation. (LOVE this! Yet another reason to support NZ wine!)
Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL
Food Pairing Suggestions: I had this with some vegetables grilled on the BBQ and it was great! This wine would go well with so many things, but grilled veggies, simple, with salt and pepper, was delicious. Onions, peppers, zucchini, etc., are all great options.

What are some of your favorite NZ Sauvignon Blanc food pairings?

Review: Oyster Bay 2012 Sauvignon Blanc

Wow! It has been quite some time since Kiwi Daydreaming has seen some love and it is about time we change that with the warmer summer months quickly on their way!

I have a few bottles I've recently drank that I enjoyed, one of which was Oyster Bay 2012 Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough. As their bottle says, Oyster Bay wines "capture the special character of New Zealand...elegant, assertive wines with glorious fruit flavors."

This wine was quite clear, with just a hint of a yellow, golden, almost gray tinge. The nose was full of fruit, tropical and citrus, with a very crisp smell.

The first sip exhibited an initial tart bite, which lingered through the finish, but  it also had bold, big fruit flavors, matching the characteristics found on the nose. After the first sip, this wine became smoother, losing a bit of the bite, but still a big fruit presence.

By day two, this wine had mellowed out a bit and become even more smooth. The best way to describe this wine is that it is a very traditional example of New Zealand sauvignon blanc, with bold, crisp fruit flavors.

Notes:
ABV: 12.5%
Vintage: 2012
Price: $10-$13
Website: www.oysterbaywines.com
Tasting Notes: Pale straw green in color with brilliant clarity, Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is zesty and aromatic with lots of lively, penetrating fruit characters. A concentration of tropical & gooseberry flavors with an abundant bouquet, it is a wine that is always crisp, elegant & refreshing.
Importer: Oyster Bay Wines, USA, Inc.
Food Pairing Suggestions: A great wine for salads, seafood & vegetarian dishes.

Review: The Seeker 2011 Sauvignon Blanc

I was browsing the aisles of a local wine store recently and came across this bottle of The Seeker. It originally caught my eye because of the price: $9.99 (only $8.99 with the 6-or-more bottles 10% discount!). At first glance, I thought the label was in desperate need of some color and sophisticated imaging, but I wanted to give it a try.

When I first opened this bottle, the nose was wonderful. Hints of guava, citrus, apple and sweet notes graced my nose. It had a slightly acidic, tart smell, but in my notes I wrote YUMMY! The color was almost crystal clear, with a pale, yellow tinge.

Upon first sip, the 2011 The Seeker Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough was light yet powerful. Bold flavors, yet not too strong or overwhelming, with a long finish. It was slightly tart, with a little acid that hit the back of your tongue while still being smooth. It was not as crisp as many of the Sauv Blancs I've reviewed, and had a bit more bite than I expected, but it was delightful.

I didn't finish this bottle for almost a week (crazy, right?) but I kept it in the fridge vacuumed. To be honest, I didn't think it would be ANY good after 7 or 8 days, but that vacuum works miracles! I ended up finishing it a week later and really enjoyed it. It was very similar, even a bit more mild than it was on day one, but still with great flavor!

Notes:
AVB: 12.7%
Vintage: 2011
Price: $9.99 (up to $13.99)
Winemaker Notes: Lifed aromas of red currant, passionfruit and spearmint combine for an intense bouquet. The palate has a prominent fresh acidity which is balanced by an intense core of fruit where characters of lime and apple come to mind. A seemless and refreshing wine.
Food Pairing Suggestions: Ideally suited to shellfish, salads, citrus-sauced dishes, ocean voyages and park blankey reconnaissance.
My Food Pairing Suggestion: I enjoyed this with a BBQ Chicken Sandwich and thought it balanced out the spices in the BBQ sauce really well. It would also go well with fruit desserts, tarts, pies,etc.