Terravin Te Ahu 2009
One of the Best NZ Sauvignon Blancs you will Ever Try
Winemaker and owner Mike Eaton recently had a tasting with Perrotti-Brown, who is a wine writer for Wine Advocate and Robert Parker. She visited just 12 wineries in Marlborough. When she tasted the 2009 Te Ahu she said it reminded her of Pavillon Blanc from Chateau Margaux which sells for around $130.00!French Sommelier Jean-Marie Pratt who has been Head Sommelier at Gordon Ramsays for the past 3 years said the Te Ahu is with no doubt one of the best three Sauvignons from NZ. "When tasting the Te Ahu Sauvignon Blanc, one would straight away sense there is something different in the wines of Terravin than most of the other wines in NZ. This has a star-bright and appealing colour, the nose is discreet to start but shows subtle notes of citrus, white fruits and flowers. It slowly opens up in the glass and delivers much more minerally notes such as flint and pebble. On the palate the wine is dry and focused and displays similar fruity and mineral notes reminiscent from the nose. It is ample and textured with a precise and marked acidity, all in harmony and balance.
I would suggest decanting this wine if consumed now - I think this wine has the ability to age and believe it will remain fresh and vibrant for another 3-4 years. I think it will then develop mature tertiary aromas but still good to drink for another 3-5 years. It reminds me of a Sancerre by Francois Cotat - one of the top Loire Valley Vignerons. This suggests that Marlborough SB, when made in a hand-crafted and serious style, can compete with the best Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume."
Fermented in 500 litre barrels and aged for 11 months before bottling this is, as Mike Eaton so rightly states "The Te Ahu Sauvignon Blanc is a new direction, a new pathway for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc". Production is limited and the price is sure to rise in the coming years. An absolute must.
Buy 'Passion and Patience - A Wine Story' on DVD to see how a hand-crafted wine like this is is made.
- Price:
- NZD $36.95
How to buy
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Case Price applies to 12 or more of the same wine.
Delivery
La Cantina delivers anywhere in New Zealand. Our delivery rates are:
- Auckland: $3.95 per case
- Rest of North Island: $7.95 per case
- South Island: $9.95 per case
Rural delivery fee $3.50
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Guarantee
I personally select and taste every wine I recommend ~ if you don't like it, please send it back to me and I will either replace it with something more suitable to your taste or issue you a full refund.
Ben Naden