I love it when I get to taste a wine where you get a feeling that something’s just a little off the regular beat. Hawke’s Bay Sav is a different beast to the trailblazing one from Marlborough, with a twist on flavours and style. I’ve had a few just recently and liked them – had another one tonight.
Part of a superb vintage and hailing from vineyards across Hawke’s Bay, this is a very pale yellow in the glass. Bright and appetisingly aromatic with a bouquet of orange flower, capsicum, nettle and fresh mown grass. Medium-bodied, crisp and showing lemongrass, passionfruit, lime zest and guava flavours on the palate. A portion of barrel-ferment, and extended time on lees has added texture, complexity and nutmeg seasoning without dampening the freshness.
A layer of oyster shell mineral and savouriness balances well with the fraction of residual sugar but the acidity gives it all great line, and decent length at the finish. Not an overtly intricate drop of wine, but definitely not your standard supermarket savvy either. I liked this a lot – and it coped well matched with chilli prawn noodle dish. 90pts.
