The refined 2007 Woodthorpe Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc was bottled just seven weeks after harvest and displays fresh lime and apricot on the nose with a citrus-driven palate. Simple but effective. Te Mata is one of the stalwarts of Hawkes Bay; indeed its roots go back to 1892 when Bernard Chambers planted the first small vineyard. But the modern era began when English-born John Buck bought the historic estate in 1974, instigated a long-term replanting program and debuted the first Coleraine (named after his late grandfather's Irish hometown) with the legendary 1982 vintage, a wine that gained international acclaim. Head winemaker Peter Cowley joined two years later and has overseen more than twenty vintages since that time.Importer, American Estates Wines, Summit, NJ; tel. (908) 273-5060

(New Zealand) Intense passion fruit, guava and herbs. Racy and fresh. Could be more complex but very good nonetheless.