Nautilus Chardonnay 2011, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

This wine is made with 100% Chardonnay grapes with maturation taking place in French oak (20% new) and alcohol comes in at 14%.

This wine opened up with aromas of grapefruit, apple, pear, pineapple, vanilla and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, slightly creamy with flavours of citrus and tree fruit, crisp, refreshing acidity and a long, lively and very pleasant finish. What a lovely cool-climate wine, with a great deal of elegance and finesse. Best Chardonnay I have enjoyed this year by far, strongly recommended. Score 92 points.

  

Purchased July 20, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (657569) at $24.95

Cloudy Bay Chardonnay 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand

 

A deep gold in color, this Chardonnay opened up with aromas of peach, pineapple, pink grapefruit, crème brulée and light minerality. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied (with alcohol coming in at 14%), rich, slightly creamy and fresh acidity. This wines finish is long with a rich combination of tropical / citrus fruit with a buttery texture. Overall a very nice Chardonnay, I would have preferred a little less oak, but the mouthfeel was very nice with enough acidity to balance all that sweetness. Score 90 points.

 

Purchased November 10, 2012 LCBO Vintages Essential (359513) at $29.95



Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

This wine is made with 100% hand harvested Sauvignon Blanc, with maturation in stainless steel tanks (no oak) and alcohol coming in at 13.5%.

Greeny yellow in color, this wine opened up with a very intense bouquet of passion fruit, fresh squeezed grapefruit/lime fruit with a stony mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with an intense citrus/lemonade flavours and lively acidity. This Sauvignon Blanc finish is long, edgy, clean and refreshing. It is best enjoyed with food like chicken, pasta in a cream sauce or a nice summer salad. Just as enjoyable as their 2011 vintage, strongly recommended, score 90 points.

Purchased April 13, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (677450) at $22.95

Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

This wine is 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes, maturation taking place in stainless steel only (no oak) and alcohol coming in at 13.5%

Greeny straw in color, this Sauvignon Blanc opens up with aromas of gooseberry, white grapefruit, passion fruit, flinty and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, intense tangy, zesty fruit, light tropical fruit flavours and lively acidity. This wines finish is long, refreshing with bright flavours lingering. This is a textbook Sauvignon Blanc made to be enjoyed at the table paired with white meat or seafood. A very enjoyable wine, score 90 points.

Purchased September 29, 2012 LCBO Vintages New Release (677450) at $21.95

Jackson Estate Stich Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

 

Beautiful and fresh aromatics in this unoaked Sauvignon Blanc, with aromas of lemon, grapefruit and pineapple. On the mouthfeel it is medium bodied (with alcohol coming in at 13%) with flavours of sweet and sour fruit, excellent fruit and acid balance. This Sauvignon Blanc finish is long, a bit edgy and slightly tart like citrus pit. Definitely better with food, score 87 points.

Purchased November 10, 2012 LCBO New Release (963124) at $19.95

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

My love affair with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is not about to change with this wine, instead it just gets stronger. This wine opened up with wonderful, fresh aromas of lime, grapefruit, passion fruit and white pepper. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with alcohol coming in at 13%, very fresh with great energy, almost creamy (most likely by the wine remaining on its yeast lees for several months) with good balance between fruit and lively acidity. This Sauvignon Blancs finish is long, clean, crisp, refreshing with great flavours. Strongly recommended, score 91 points.

Purchased September 15, 2012 LCBO New Release (974527) at $21.95  

Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

This Sauvignon Blanc is the style of SB that is tailor-made for my palate, citrus and tropical fruit, clean, crisp, refreshing and un-oaked. This wine opens up with aromas of pink grapefruit, lime, gooseberry, pineapple and pine nettle. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied (with alcohol coming in at 13%), a bit edgy, intensely flavourful, with zesty acidity. Clean and refreshing finish with flavours of citrus-passion fruit and a bit of residual sugar coating your mouth. Just as beautiful as when I tasted this SB at the New Zealand Wine Fair here in Ottawa last May. Glad I bought more than one bottle, strongly recommended. Score 91 points.

 

Purchased July 21, 2012 LCBO New Release (278556) at $19.95

Dog Point Vineyard Chardonnay 2009, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

 

 

This Chardonnay is 100% estate grown fruit, barrel fermented, in French oak (15% new) for 18 months with alcohol coming in at 14%. Straw yellow in color, this Chardonnay opens up with aromas of pear, peach, pineapple, lime zest, toasty and roasted nuts. On the palate, medium bodied, lean in the mouth with a slightly sweet and creamy texture with fresh acidity. Very nice length on the finish, with a mix of citrus/ripe tree fruit and refreshing acidity. What you get from Dog Point Chardonnay 2009 is elegance and a great deal of finesse. And yes, a New Zealand white wine with a cork closure. Strongly recommended. Score 92 points

 

Purchased April 28, 2012 LCBO New Release (238568) at $39.95

 

 

Seresin Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Marlborough, New Zealand

This wine is a blend of 94% Sauvignon Blanc and 6% Sémillon, all certified organic grapes, with 10% of the Sauvignon Blanc and all of the Sémillon fermented in seasoned French oak, with alcohol coming in at 14%.

This wine opens up with aromas of grassy herbaceous notes, citrus fruit, ripe tropical fruit, honey and minerals. On the palate, medium bodied, citrus fruit flavours, creamy texture and lively acidity. Short finish on this SB with sweet and tart flavours and noticeable heat from the alcohol. This is a SB which needs spicy food like Indian or Thai. This is not the style of SB I enjoy, a little too creamy for me and not refreshing enough. Score 87 points.     

Purchased April 28, 2012 LCBO New Release (735043) at $21.95    

Two Rivers of Marlborough Convergence Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough, New Zealand

The grapes of this 100% Sauvignon Blanc are from two separate vineyards located on the banks of the Wairau and Awatere rivers.  A percentage of the wine was aged on natural yeast lees in French oak for 3 months to add complexity and texture, the rest of the aging process took place in stainless steel tanks.
This textbook New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc opens up with fresh bouquet of gooseberry, lime, passion fruit and fresh tarragon and mineral notes. On the palate, medium bodied with alcohol at 13.5%, lively acidity with that same freshness on the nose carrying through on the mouthfeel.  Very good length with mouth watering crisp finish and citrus flavours lingering. I paired this SB with roast chicken with lemons and it worked beautifully. An intense and refreshing wine here, strongly recommended. Score 91 points.

Purchased on April 28, 2012 LCBO New Release (277707) at $29.95

Kim Crawford SP Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough, New Zealand

This Sauvignon Blanc from Kim Crawford is a definite step up in quality compared to there regular offering and well worth the extra dollars. On the nose, a very fresh and intense aromatics with aromas of grapefruit, passion  fruit, sweet tropical fruit, minerals and hints of fresh herbs. The mouthfeel is almost creamy (partly barrel fermented?) with loads of energy, refreshing and food friendly acid with flavours of citrus and sweet tropical fruit flavours and minerals notes. This Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc finish is fresh and lively, very refreshing. A definite food wine, score 90 points.   

  

This wine was purchased February 4, 2012 LCBO New Release (038240) at $24.95

Churton Pinot Noir 2008, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

This wine comes across at halfway between the style of a California Pinot and a Burgundy Pinot with the aromas of wild berry fruit, plum jam, clove, cinnamon stick, soft leather and attractive earthy notes. This medium to full bodied Pinot has a velvety smooth mouthfeel with Pinot characteristics good acidity and grainy tannins. The finish is long, smoky, slightly hot (alcohol at 14%) with ultra ripe fruit flavour. Not an elegant Pinot for sure, but very smooth and enjoyable. Score 88 points.

This wine was purchased September 17, 2011 LCBO New Release at $36.95.

Terravin Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand

The Terravin 2009 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc comes from a parcel of land in Marlborough’s Cowley Family Vineyard. This SB was partially fermented in seasoned French Oak (33% to be exact). Lovely aromas of passion fruit,  gooseberry, grapefruit and lemon notes, fresh grass, wet stone and some minerality as well. All of this leads to a grapefruit freshness on the mouthfeel, with still noticeable acidity, but tamed by partial oak fermentation which gave it a smooth texture. This wine finish is long, refreshing with a hint of sweetness. I usually prefer an on unoaked Sauvignon Blanc, but this one was so enjoyable. This wine was a little expensive for a SB, but factor in the cost of French oak barrels and its worth the added value to up the quality of this wine. Strongly recommended.

This wine was purchased September 17, 2011 LCBO New Release at $29.95.

Mount Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand

A bright pale yellow with green tinge, this Sauvignon Blanc has fragrant aromas of lemon, lime, fresh cut grass and green pea. The palate is dry, medium bodied with bright and racy acidity. The finish is long, citrusy and refreshing. This wine is a venture of the Antinori house of Tuscany, Italy.

This wine was purchased on June 11, 2011 LCBO New Release at $19.95