A Marlborough, but not light! (Montana Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc)

Member Name: cmh4135

Product:	Montana Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Date:	10/02/08 (76 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Thought of as the benchmark for the wine type (mass produced)

Disadvantages: Can be beaten but at a price

The Sauvignon Blanc grape is a very versatile grape variety that finds itself in all manner of wines. New World (Australia, New Zealand, US, South America and the like) wines made with this grape will be obvious as they are labelled with the grape variety but old world (European) wines made with the grape are less obvious as they will be labelled with the region of production rather than the grape variety and so you might find yourself drinking a Pouilly-Fume or Sancerre and not realise that the grape that you are drinking is, in fact, Sauv Blanc.

Let's keep things simple though - what does a good Sauvignon Blanc wine taste like? You could do far worse than getting yourself a bottle of Montana's Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

The Marlborough region of New Zealand is famed for its good wines and Montana's offering here is often thought of as the benchmark against which all NZ Sauv Blancs are rated.

In the glass you'll notice that the wine has a very pale yellow appearance, sometimes with a hint of green. It's a clear and bright wine. The colour is important. Mass produced white wines are designed to be drunk very quickly after bottling (within about a year) and certainly not laid down like good reds. If on pouring the wine you have a straw yellow, opaque or dull wine you will be able to tell that this is not a young wine and, although it should still be drinkable, is past its intended best.

New Zealand is an interesting region for wine production as, although considered New World, offers a much cooler climate than the traditional New World regions. This makes for wines that display both the characteristics of the New World with the flavours of the Old. This Sauv Blanc is no exception.

Swirling the wine in the glass will release the aromas. You'll immediately pick up a fruity smell that I would identify as being gooseberry. Taking another sniff and you may well think that you can detect some more tropical fruits although I can't place them as the smell is more of a hint than an in-your-face whiff. I can also detect a herbal smell, almost grassy or possibly cooked asparagus. The whole is very pleasant.

On the taste one is immediately hit with that fruity flavour that one sensed in the aroma of the wine. The gooseberries are evident but so too is that warmer, tropical fruit that I couldn't place before. It's still largely unidentifiable although I might be tempted to plump for passion fruit. The fruit flavour is balanced by a high acidity and, if you swirl the wine in your mouth you'll get a strong acidic tang that will cause quite high salivation. This high acidity is typical of the Sauv Blanc grape and makes it easily identifiable. There's not a hint of sweetness about this wine, despite the fruity flavours and so it can truly be described as dry. It has a medium finish, the zesty flavours make quite an impact but then quickly fade.

The wine is medium bodied and well balanced. In my opinion it proves to be the perfect partner to acidic foods, particularly tomatoes, but don't even think of pairing it with sweet foods as it will taste very, very acidic. Despite being a white it is quite robust and so also partners sausages quite well, particularly if they are herby! Shellfish, salads and goats cheese are also ideal partners.

Expect to pay around £7.50 for a bottle of this wine and I think that this is more than reasonable for a wine that is so perfect of its type. If you like this wine, or your budget doesn't stretch as far then most other New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs will offer a similar tasting experience, or, if you want to branch out then maybe try a Sancerre (look for a wine with an "appellation controlee" marking on its label) or even the ever-popular Jacobs Creek Dry Riesling from Australia.

If you've got a bit more to spend then a good Pouilly Fume (again "appellation controllee") or Montana's own Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc will really show you what a punch this grape can deliver.

Summary: The benchmark NZ Sauvignon Blanc