There’s always a bit of hesitation when we promote something relatively ‘normal’. After all, nearly two decades into internet and email outreach marketing, it seems like every offer is making the claim of ‘best ever’ or ‘best buy ever’. Let’s be honest. Not every wine made is going to change the world. But sometimes you just want a delicious, proper, well-priced wine to drink without fanfare or consideration. This is that.
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc as a category has established itself as a strong candidate in the value category for Sauvignon Blanc. The thing is that selecting among the available labels can be a bit of a minefield if you are just looking at labels. A lot of value bottlings lean a little too far to the vegetative side of the spectrum, with dominant flavors of asparagus and cabbage. Others have searing acidity. There are also those that try to cover it up with residual sugar. It’s not easy to find one with honest fruit, bright but not overbearing acidity, and a pleasing flavor profile. When you find one like that, with a easy to swallow price, that’s news.
The Matahiwi Sauvignon Blanc 2019 from Wairarapa is a new name for us, but it checks all the boxes and then some. First, this stuff is estate bottled and is sustainably farmed. Those are phrases you don’t often hear associated with wines in this price range. The crop size is smaller by the nature of the terroir, and they augment the ripening process by leaf pulling to give the grapes better exposure. The harvest the vineyard over different periods to collect the grapes in varied stages of ripeness so that they have a broader palette of flavors with which to construct their final blend.
Having not tasted this house before, we can’t speak historically. But it sure worked in 2019. Tropical fruit, white stone fruit, gooseberry and lime covers the flavor profile with fresh underscoring acidity adding the appropriate ‘zip’ through the finish. James Suckling picked this one out of the pack as well writing, “A very fresh and zesty sauvignon, offering flinty and fresh passion fruit and limes and flowing to a smoothly fleshy, mango and peach palate. Drink now. Screw cap…90 points.”
Tasty, easy drinking, and, at $9.98, not a major financial commitment. Will it change your life? Probably not. But having something this agreeable at this kind of price is never a bad thing.