$17.95 LTO at SLGA. Classic Marlborough stylie - big, bold, brash in yo face with green veg and ripe yet sour tropical fruit. The colour is light straw with a tinge of green. The aromas are all about passion fruit, asparagus, thai basil, green papaya, lime and apple skins. The palate is richly fruited with tangy salivating acids. Packs a flavour punch and goes down easy, especially for the higher alc. Its what I was looking for. Would buy again. Bring on grilled seafood and fruit salsa. Drink now. Tasted Jan '14.

Just like Whitehaven's Pinot Noir, this is pretty much exactly what a good, solid Sauvignon Blanc (particularly from New Zealand) is meant to be, sprightly and flavourful without crossing the line into artifice. There's the usual gooseberry and passionfruit, but also a lovely touch of pineapple as well as some herbal notes. Nothing terribly distinctive here, but it's a very fine example of the varietal.