BOB’S BEST BUYS

Wine: Rapaura Springs 2019 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough $18.99

Why I chose it:

• Marlborough Sauvignon one of the heroes of the generally excellent 2019 vintage
• I’ve just spent 3 days chairing the NZ International Wine Competition where Sauvignon Blanc was one of the more exciting categories
• The best wines are just starting to appear on wine shop shelves
• Rapaura Springs is a consistent high performer making one of Marlborough’s best wines and certainly the best value wine.

What does it taste like?

• It’s a big, rich and powerful Sauvignon in a love it or hate it style that is sometimes described as “sweaty”. The French call this character “box hedge” and if you crush some box hedge leaves you get the exact aroma.
• The wine tastes of a lot more than box hedge with plenty of passion fruit and capsicum characters. I love it.
• It has deliciously mouth-watering acidity which makes the wine fresh but not too acidic.

Why it’s a bargain:

• Serious Sauvignon under $20 are as rare as a Kakapo in Queen Street

Where you can buy it?

• My local New World has it for $14.99. I found it at Glengarry and The Good Wine Co for $13.99 which is an even better but. If anyone’s planning to buy a case I recommend buying and tasting one bottle first.

Food match?

• This is a pretty robust Sauvignon that will match most seafoods and white meats. I particularly like it with roast chicken (I cook a pretty mean chicken drumsticks layered with thinly sliced lemon).

Will it keep?

• It will certainly offer pleasure over the next 2-3 years but it probably won’t improve much in the bottle. Ready for drinking now.

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