New Zealand at its irresistible best

There is something just irresistible about New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. This winery has been in existence for 65 years, yet most of us think of these wines as a recent arrival on our shores, and our palates. Fact is, this grape is perfectly suited to growing conditions in the lovely Marlborough region and there is a depth of flavour and style which is hard to find in other southern hemisphere Sauvignon Blanc, such as those grown in Chile. The most famous region for this grape is Bordeaux in France and also the Loire Valley, where it yields Sancerre and its cousin, Pouilly Fumé.

So how does a New Zealand Sauvignon compare with its French version? The cliché is to call it ‘cat’s pee under a gooseberry bush’ (!) In France, the delicate ‘green pepper’ aroma is contained and subtle, in Kiwi land it is forceful and fragrant. Take your pick, but if you fancy a wine which will taste equally brilliant with a Thai curry or a grilled sole, then this is just right for you. Serve well chilled and relish its long, complex finish which delivers just the right amount of acidity to counterbalance any richness in a dish. It’s a class act.

Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008, £8.49 Asda, Morrisons, Tesco

ROZ COOPER: BIOGRAPHY

Roz began her wine career in California, leading wine tours and tasting wines for a wine warehouse near San Francisco. She then ran her own California wine import business in the UK and subsequently became assistant editor of Decanter magazine, then wrote various books on wine including The Wine Almanac. Since then, she has written wine columns in many publications and edited books and magazines, including The Italian Magazine. She’s passionate about green issues including organic and biodynamic winemaking and also works on a voluntary basis with the Galapagos Conservation Trust.

Tags: Wine of the Week