Oyster Bay is huge here as well and I have no idea why, it just tastes like passion pop. I can’t drink it. I’m sure there’s good NZ Sauvignon Blancs but I’m yet to find one and would welcome suggestions.
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Dog Point Section 94 is easily the best I have tried, not least because it doesn’t taste much of SB.
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Barrel fermented which seems to deal with the asparagus/nettle pyrazine notes that are so prevalent in most of the NZ SBs I have had - and which I too find not to my taste.
From South Africa, where there are a lot of similarly herbaceous aromatic SBs, I have found those from Waterkloof and Cape Point Vineyards to buck the trend and Lismore barrel fermented SB as well. And if all else fails, I just head for the Loire!
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It’s the annual Drink Chenin Blanc day and I don’t need any excuse! The Kameraderie from Lukas van Loggerenberg is clean and fresh and the 20 year older Vouvray is smooth and supple. A great evening ahead!
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My local restaurant has started selling a Gamay, but at £45 I haven’t pushed the button yet. It needs to happen though …
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Not the best is it? Cloudy Bay much better but no doubt pricey now?
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Maybe they keep all the good stuff for themselves 
Btw, I know there a lot of NZ forumites on this thread so I hope I haven’t caused offence.
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Hans Herzog sauv Blanca from Marlborough are sensational also if can find them in Aus. Yes Dog Point Section 94 is excellent
Oyster Bay a shocker
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Two rivers “Altitude “ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
This is a very good Kiwi savvy. Cost me about£12 and worth it.
Fermentation in clay eggs and amphorae and finished in oak. It is a bit like a Chardonnay but with capsicum and passion fruit. Delightful with Jamie Oliver sesame roast chicken.
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Seems to sell for around £20 plus delivery in these parts though. The oak was defiantly present in the mouth feel and lower acidity of the Cloudy Bay and seems to be an increasingly popular treatment in the making of Sauvignon Blanc, including in the Loire. There is life in this grape yet😄
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For less money, look out for Vidal or Nautilus SB which should both be fairly widely available. Both very good - a good step up in the usual commercial offerings - and great vfm.
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Another good SB from NZ is Pencarrow from Palliser Estate.
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Vincent Paris “Granit 30” 2012 Cornas Syrah
This wine keeps changing in the glass. It is made from hand harvested Syrah grapes on a 30 degree slope.
Initially it was very tannic but after 2 hours it has mellowed. The flavour has bloomed. It tastes like blackberry, dark red plum, leather with some fruit sweetness with a firm tannic finish. It needs food and is quite mouth-watering with honey and orange juice roasted pork chops.
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Craggy Range Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020
This is unoaked and fresh tasting with notes of lime, passion fruit and white peach. Mineral crisp finish. A cut above the average supermarket SB.
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It’s about 50-60% more here in the UK, but available widely through Waitrose, which is nice.
I recently bought some Craggy Range Pinot Noir (also from Waitrose), which I thought was excellent. Good enough that I went back and bought lots more…
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Sticking with the Kiwi theme cracked this open for a recently lost friend, it was his favourite Pinot Noir, Nanny Goat from the Central Otago region.
This ones for him.
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Visited some friends holiday home on a little island rock on the south coast of Norway for the weekend.
Another English Sparkling Wine triumph, the Nyetimber, Classic Cuvee. Light but with lots of minerals from West Chiltington, West Sussex.
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