New Zealand's reputation for making excellent and affordable Sauvignon Blanc is well-deserved, and the consistency with which this South Pacific island delivers it is just phenomenal. It does not tend to be overly complicated, the fruit is simply outstanding, and the complexity that they are able to coax out of this variety in their cool, maritime climate is just uncanny. To wit: the 2024 Wither Hills, which when thoroughly chilled comes across as pretty straightforward with nice grapefruit and grass notes, but as it warms a bit in the glass it explodes with pineapple, guava, lemongrass, kiwi fruit, and lime zest notes. It is clean, refreshing, and glorious. It clocks in at a Total Acidity (TA) of 7.4, which would be extraordinarily high by American standards, and has a modest 3 grams/liter of residual sugar, which is perfect for balancing that high acid. This is a masterfully made wine and a tremendous value. (93 Points)
- Tim Teichgraeber
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