Villa Maria
Cellar Selection Organic Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
Villa Maria in New Zealand has been employing organic principles since 1999. It was in 2007 when they achieved the internationally recognised BioGro Organic Certification for a 21 hectare block in Hawkes Bay. And in 2009 Villa Maria became the first major winery in New Zealand to gain BioGro certification!
This here is a sample I received (thank you!) of the Villa Maria 2018 Organic Sauvignon Blanc from the Cellar Selection. It’s made from Marlborough Sauv Blanc fruit.
We found it a lemon lime colour in the glass. The nose is full of vibrant gooseberries and oranges with a hint of sherbet. While in the mouth it’s dry, mineralistic and flinty with a smooth texture and is delicately balanced. Yummy notes of passionfruit and pineapple come through 😋
This wine was sent to me as a sample, I was under no obligation to post about it.
All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy!
Villa Maria in New Zealand has been employing organic principles since 1999. It was in 2007 when they achieved the internationally recognised BioGro Organic Certification for a 21 hectare block in Hawkes Bay. And in 2009 Villa Maria became the first major winery in New Zealand to gain BioGro certification!
This here is a sample I received (thank you!) of the Villa Maria 2018 Organic Sauvignon Blanc from the Cellar Selection. It’s made from Marlborough Sauv Blanc fruit.
We found it a lemon lime colour in the glass. The nose is full of vibrant gooseberries and oranges with a hint of sherbet. While in the mouth it’s dry, mineralistic and flinty with a smooth texture and is delicately balanced. Yummy notes of passionfruit and pineapple come through 😋
This wine was sent to me as a sample, I was under no obligation to post about it.
All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy!
In the middle of dog days of summer, when the late afternoon sun is blazing and the breeze is heavy with humidity, opening a chilled bottle of crisp, fruity and zesty Sauvignon Blanc is too great a temptation to resist.
I have to admit, though, I'm a newbie to this grape variety. As a regular reds drinker and a big fan of Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc never ranked high on my list. Things changed last late summer, when I encountered the beautiful bottle of Cloudy Bay from Marlborough on the South Island of New Zealand. It opened my eyes, not to mention my palate.
Since then, I usually choose NZ Sauvignon Blanc over those from Pouilly-Fume and Sancerre in the Loire Valley, France, especially in the summer months.
The classic French examples tend to be more elegant and creamy thanks to oak barrel fermentation and aging. Its flinty aroma, a gift of the terroir, is world-renown. On the other hand, the NZ Sauvignon Blanc is more expressive, showing off its lively aromas loaded with fresh fruit flavors, successfully retained by fermentation in stainless steel or concrete vat. This style of Sauvignon Blanc has set itself apart from its French cousins and put New Zealand on the map.
I've opened four different NZ Sauvignon Blanc, all from Marlborough, around the C$19 range over the last few weeks, including Villa Maria Cellar Selection 2016, Momo 2015, Kim Crawford 2016 and Astrolabe Province 2016. Among them, I like Villa Maria the most.
The pungent aroma with white peach, nectarine, passion fruit, gooseberry, lime and grape fruit is just intoxicating.
The first sip is almost like biting into a juicy, underripe white peach and Granny Smith apple, followed by zesty grapefruit and gooseberry, and then a slice of passion fruit kicks in. The hint of grass and crushed rock definitely adds another layer of complexity. Then the vibrant flavor lingers with a subtle green pepper note.
I paired with a wide range of dishes. The wine's refreshing sweetness and zest beautifully enhanced the spicy kick of Thai green curry and the cheesiness of margarita pizza. It nicely complemented grilled salmon and a big bowl of salad thanks to its crispness and subtle herbal note and minerality.
Still, this is a perfect summer wine to drink solo. As the glaring sun slowly goes down, a glass of Sauvignon Blanc guarantees to quench the thirst on a warm midsummer's evening. Cheers!
In the middle of dog days of summer, when the late afternoon sun is blazing and the breeze is heavy with humidity, opening a chilled bottle of crisp, fruity and zesty Sauvignon Blanc is too great a temptation to resist.
I have to admit, though, I'm a newbie to this grape variety. As a regular reds drinker and a big fan of Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc never ranked high on my list. Things changed last late summer, when I encountered the beautiful bottle of Cloudy Bay from Marlborough on the South Island of New Zealand. It opened my eyes, not to mention my palate.
Since then, I usually choose NZ Sauvignon Blanc over those from Pouilly-Fume and Sancerre in the Loire Valley, France, especially in the summer months.
The classic French examples tend to be more elegant and creamy thanks to oak barrel fermentation and aging. Its flinty aroma, a gift of the terroir, is world-renown. On the other hand, the NZ Sauvignon Blanc is more expressive, showing off its lively aromas loaded with fresh fruit flavors, successfully retained by fermentation in stainless steel or concrete vat. This style of Sauvignon Blanc has set itself apart from its French cousins and put New Zealand on the map.
I've opened four different NZ Sauvignon Blanc, all from Marlborough, around the C$19 range over the last few weeks, including Villa Maria Cellar Selection 2016, Momo 2015, Kim Crawford 2016 and Astrolabe Province 2016. Among them, I like Villa Maria the most.
The pungent aroma with white peach, nectarine, passion fruit, gooseberry, lime and grape fruit is just intoxicating.
The first sip is almost like biting into a juicy, underripe white peach and Granny Smith apple, followed by zesty grapefruit and gooseberry, and then a slice of passion fruit kicks in. The hint of grass and crushed rock definitely adds another layer of complexity. Then the vibrant flavor lingers with a subtle green pepper note.
I paired with a wide range of dishes. The wine's refreshing sweetness and zest beautifully enhanced the spicy kick of Thai green curry and the cheesiness of margarita pizza. It nicely complemented grilled salmon and a big bowl of salad thanks to its crispness and subtle herbal note and minerality.
Still, this is a perfect summer wine to drink solo. As the glaring sun slowly goes down, a glass of Sauvignon Blanc guarantees to quench the thirst on a warm midsummer's evening. Cheers!
A good Sauvignon Blanc for an Indian Summer Sunday.
A good Sauvignon Blanc for an Indian Summer Sunday.
Oct 16th, 2016
Vona passion fruits. Na chuti kvet bazy prechadzajuce do zihlavy. Na dochuti citit jemne broskynu. Dobre vino za dobru cenu.
Vona passion fruits. Na chuti kvet bazy prechadzajuce do zihlavy. Na dochuti citit jemne broskynu. Dobre vino za dobru cenu.
Jul 21st, 2015
