The 2009 Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc has a bright, well-defined nose with green apple, pear and lime leaf. The palate is medium-bodied, well balanced with subtle leafy flavors suffusing the crisp green apple, gooseberry, elderflower and lime flavors. It just lacks a little attack towards the finish, but otherwise, very fine. Drink now-2013.
The clement weather during the 2009 vintage meant that Villa Maria's winemaking team faced a 20% above average crop. Bearing in mind the pitfalls of over-production in 2008, strict yield controls were imposed on each winery, with many lopping off a whole cane. Villa Maria continues to produce a strong diverse portfolio that embraces entry-level varietals to limited bottlings of single vineyards. As mentioned in previous reports their Pinot Noirs remain their Achilles heel in an otherwise impressive, diverse range. In particular, I feel that their Syrah are really coming into their own. I have included wines from Vidal and Esk Valley that are under the same umbrella, but treated separately.
Importer: Ste Michelle Wine Estates, Woodinville, WA; tel. (800) 267-6793