2007 Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand

[wondersofwine]

Regional collection
12.5% alcohol
A bit paler than the BV Coastal Esates Sauvignon Blanc I had previously and a little more transparent. Lemony nose; lemon and grapefruit flavors. Some gooseberry? Plenty of acid--crisp, tart and refreshing.

[Innkeeper]

A reliable producer year after year.

[Kcwhippet]

The grapefruit and gooseberry are hallmarks of the SB's from the Marlborough region. Cloudy Bay was once the best of the lot and the one all the others patterned themselves after. It's still good, but I think they've priced themselves way too high, so I don't buy them anymore.

[wondersofwine]

Admittedly, I haven't tried Cloudy Bay more than a couple times but I never understood all the praise for it. In blind tastings in Raleigh, the Bedford Road Sauvignon Blanc kept beating the Cloudy Bay by a large margin. (Bedford Road may be an export-only wine, not available in New Zealand. The grapes are from a property next to Renwick Vineyard which is a Cloudy Bay source and also used in Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc.)