There are some wines that you try and they take a little while to grow on you, or perhaps just need to find the right food, the right time, the right place. And there are some wines you try that you admire and are happy to recommend to others as fine examples of what they are, even though you might not want to drink them yourself very often. Then there are wines that simply knock you out at the first mouthful, that you think, right away, this is stunning. And so it was with the Stanley Estates Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, which I am recommending in this week's column in the Independent on Sunday, which is here
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/wines-of-the-week-stanley-estates-marlborough-sauvignon-blanc-2010-domaine-les-yeuses-les-epices-syrah-2009-trivento-malbec-2009-2317571.html It's hardly the most unusual wine, but I love Kiwi Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - its approachable, refreshing, zingy on the palate. While standards are mostly high - you find very few duff bottles - such consistency often leads to over familiarity and one zesty gooseberry-and-lime flavoured bottle begins to taste pretty much like the others. Not so the Stanley Estates - yes, its got all those flavours, but in massive quantities: a hugely refreshing mouthful with the tastes of elderflower, gooseberry, asparagus, green peppers and lime all easily identified. And its made by a British couple: you can read all about them here:
http://www.stanleyestates.co.nz/Unfortunately, while you can get it easily enough online - the stockists are in the column - the Stanley Estates isn't yet available in one of the High Street majors like Waitrose or Majestic, because, I suspect, they can't produce sufficient quantities. It's a real shame, but reinforces the fact that if you want to try individual, different wines, going to small online retailers is often the best bet.
There are some wines that you try and they take a little while to grow on you, or perhaps just need to find the right food, the right time, the right place. And there are some wines you try that you admire and are happy to recommend to others as fine examples of what they are, even though you might not want to drink them yourself very often. Then there are wines that simply knock you out at the first mouthful, that you think, right away, this is stunning. And so it was with the Stanley Estates Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, which I am recommending in this week's column in the Independent on Sunday, which is here http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/wines-of-the-week-stanley-estates-marlborough-sauvignon-blanc-2010-domaine-les-yeuses-les-epices-syrah-2009-trivento-malbec-2009-2317571.html It's hardly the most unusual wine, but I love Kiwi Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - its approachable, refreshing, zingy on the palate. While standards are mostly high - you find very few duff bottles - such consistency often leads to over familiarity and one zesty gooseberry-and-lime flavoured bottle begins to taste pretty much like the others. Not so the Stanley Estates - yes, its got all those flavours, but in massive quantities: a hugely refreshing mouthful with the tastes of elderflower, gooseberry, asparagus, green peppers and lime all easily identified. And its made by a British couple: you can read all about them here: http://www.stanleyestates.co.nz/