The 2008 ‘Grace’ is an unorthodox blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Chardonnay. The color is a pale to medium straw – quite deep in fact for its age. But the palate somewhat explains this since there’s a fair bit of oak enshrouding a pronounced nose of warm apricots, pink guava, pink grapefruit and jasmine and just a hint of dill seed. Crisp, light to medium bodied there’s a lot going on in the mouth and most of it oaky, finishing long with just a bit of phenolic/tannic grip. I’m not sure if that oak can ever marry – it’s hard to drink right now, but I’ve given it the benefit of a doubt with my score. Importer: Oceania Wines, New York, NY; tel. (877) 771-8773

God to honest truth, I thought 2007 Sauvignon/Semillon was a Chardonnay until I saw the back label! It is a very fine, well-crafted wine, but there are simply no traits of Sauvignon Blanc! A fairly reserved, neutral nose but nice lift, the palate following suit: well balanced, nice poise but a little anodyne. Pleasurable at the time of imbibing, but you will not remember it days later. I stumbled across Paritua at a public tasting in London and was mightily impressed by their wines (since re-tasted single blind from samples.) Established in 2001 by two Americans, Brianne and Gary Fisher who fell in love with Hawkes Bay, they farm 150 acres in the Ngatawara Triangle and though produced in small quantities, are well worth seeking out.Importer: Oceania Wine Group, New York, NY