2003 NZ Sauvignon

Thanks for the notes! I've yet to see a Stelvin cap in the wine stores here (Washington, DC) but I'll look out for the first one.

I don't usually have any great liking for Nobilo's products but I was persuaded to try their 2002 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc last night. It was certainly the best wine I've had from Nobilo and very good for an inexpensive wine.

My local wine shop says that CB this year (2003) is not very good and steered me away from it. Actually, two wine shops did so now that I think about it. I had CB in the past (1999) and liked it. Do you know how 2003 compares?

Dimitri

Hi Dimitri

Like any top class producer, they have greater and lesser vintages, but I have *never* had a CB SB which I would describe as "not very good".

Obviously, we are spoiled for choice here in NZ - I have always found a couple of wines which I thought were simply gorgeous in any particular vintage; and usually these are from smaller producers - which often offer better value too.

If you can find something from my list available in your part of the world, by all means try one - but if not, Cloudy Bay is a very good wine.

At least CB produce in volumes which makes them more readily available.

What did these two shops recommend instead?

................................ st.helier

Sorry for my confusing use of words. By not very good I mean "not as good as usual and nowhere near as good as others at the same price point". The pinot noir on the other hand *was* said to be downright bad.

So my question is if this latest vintage is perhaps not as good as one might expect.

I don't recall. I ended up not buying any SB at all.

Dimitri

....and if the Aussies some how manage to win the Rugby World Cup m'lord, what bottles do you intend to send to Australia to cover the double or zip wager from the cricket? :>)

Regards Swooper

To those who do not understand the finer points of Trans Tasman rivalry, kindly skip this post.

Equally, if you consider "football" to mean either kicking a ball with your head or wearing a helmet plus 100lbs of padding whilst only being on the playing field a maximum of 30 minutes - you may also like to go to a more relevant post.

However, if you do like gratuitous violence (masquerading as sport) as the words Rugby Union may mean - and you do understand that NZ vs Australia is one of the great rivalries in world sport (regardless of which sport is being played) - then you will realise that the Australian poster (Swooper) is a total dreamer - of the first order !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The biggest word (in the Australian dictionary) is "if"

Australia will win the 2003 World Cup of Rugby Union - if only pigs could fly !!!!!

IF however, Australia does happen to get through to the final playoffs - and does happen to encounter NZ (in the semis or final!) - and does not resort to those "very South African tactics" of drugging their opposition - I will wager a case of whatever NZ wine " the aforementioned "Swooper" should choose - and I shall deliver same should Australia win.

(Actually, Australian king prawns and Marlborough Sauvignon is also a match made in heaven!!!!!)

Andrew (Lord) St.Helier

Well M'lord, it was your good self that tipped me into that giant SB from Martinborough...Palliser. I think my tongue is still ringing months later. :>) Yes, prawns and SB...how divine. The WA SB's are getting even better... won't be long and they may challenge some of NZ's best. I somehow think you will not need to be shipping any wine, as the Aussie team is but a shadow of the team that won the last Cup, and I expect an England Vs NZ final. I do agree with your summation of Rugby, 'cos we all know REAL footy is Aussie Rules...:>)

Hooroo.....

Had this recently (though without the oysters) and liked it. Quite powerful as you say, but light, fresh floral flavours. Was also very impressed by their 2002 Pinot which has just been released here in the UK.

Interesting. I got half a dozen of the 2002 and initially wasn't very impressed, but having open a couple more recently (including tonight), it's improved alot over this time last year (shock from journey?). Will look out the 2003 with interest.

Don't know Palliser but one of the local shops claims to have the 2002 so sounds like I'll have to see if they really do. Don't suppose you've seen/heard tell of the 2003 Neudorf SB?

Thanks for the notes.

Ian

Hi everyone

I'm pretty much a lurker here usually but my passion is "NZ wine" - If you want to find out about any NZ savvys then pop on over to NZ Winelinks, my hobby site: I have links to nearly every New Zealand Vineyard, Winery or related NZ site all sorted just for you to peruse at your leisure.

Recent Savvys I have tasted and enjoyed - among others

Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2003 (Marlborough) Forrest Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2002 (Marlborough) Amisfield Sauvignon Blanc 2003 (Central Otago) Charles Wiffen Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2001 Giesen Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2002 Torlesse Waipara Sauvignon Blanc 2001

Cheers

John (JB)

NZ Winelinks - Linking you to the Wines, Vineyards and Viticulture of New Zealand Web:

Hi Ian,

Palliser (Martinborough) is a nice balance of the quintessential Marlborough (zingy) style and the more tropical (less aggressive) Hawkes Bay sauvignon.

It sells out within weeks here in NZ - so if you can still get some of the

No, I have not tried the 2003 Neudorf as yet.

This winery is in Nelson province - over the hills from Marlborough. About

The Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay is one of NZs very best - and is usually snapped up ex winery before it hits the retail shelves.

St.Helier

Heh. Huge Johnson describes it thusly: "Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in drag." Not a bad metaphor, actually. To me, Palliser has a whopping huge whack of tropical fruit in the nose and on the palate with good crisp acidity and moderately herbaceous grassiness. In comparison to the Cloudy Bay model of SB, it has more fruitiness and less grassy character; in contrast to the Hawke's Bay SBs, it is crisper and less round, with more over-the-top flavors.

Funny, I can still find some for sale here in Indiana, Andrew. Should I send you a CARE package? ;-) On that note, I'll also mention that, in light of your very informative report on the 2003 SB vintage, I am stocking up on several 2002s to tide me through these tough times...

Mark Lipton

Both yourself and Johnson have it right on the button.

Strangely enough, I flew across to Australia a couple of weeks ago, and there in Duty Free (now that is a misnomer if there ever was one, when referring to wine - it was dearer than on-shelf retail!!!) was 1/2 doz. 2002 Palliser - which I had put aside until I returned.

But, it has not been available in main stream retail for 6 months!!!

The tough times will be solely because the vintage was so light on volume!

Kindest regards

St.H

Okay, I'll have to try it. (Not least after that "SB in drag comment," can't quite picture that! :-)

I was actually asking as a eagerly awaiting fan of their's, but I hadn't realised it had any oak fermentation, makes some sense though. Will carry on waiting.

I had it once a couple of years ago and was impressed. Also reasonably liked their standard Chardonnay (Nelson? or am I mixing the names up?). Alas our local supplier seems to have cut back to only have the SB. (Memories of the Pinot Noir where it was okay but not as good as the whites but probably drunk too young, after couple of years.)

Thanks for the info

Ian