2022 Howard Park Sauvignon Blanc

This is a Wow! kind of wine if ever there was one. Even if you consider yourself a non-Sauvignon believer, I suspect you will be taken aback by its purity of expression. Mixes intensity of Sauvignon herbals with floral aromatics in equal parts. Green apple, passionfruit pulp, citrus, green bean, jasmine and lantana. Beautifully formed, elegantly delivered . . . and believe me, I don’t write that everyday about Sauvignon Blanc.

Punchy varietal flavours of sugar snap peas, feijoa and passionfruit, some stone fruit, too, and all of it well balanced. Refreshing and lively across the palate with acidity leading the charge.

Don’t think your standard fruity savvy when you get this wine. It gets some serious treatment with barrel fermentation, skin contact and some tank fermentation to keep it bright and lively. Has a creamy guava-like aroma which extends into the palate. It’s multi-layered and has a slightly flinty minerality which gives a boost to the finish.

A fresh and easy sauvignon with plenty of fruit character, melon and lemon with hints of stone

The humble sauv blanc seems to be re-emerging and regaining its ascendency over the benign pinots gris and grigio.

Their 2022 Howard Park sauvignon blanc that made my tastebuds sit up and take notice during a recent sampling. It’s quite unlike the sickly Marlborough examples that we see pile up to the rafters at the local grog shop! Exotic, textured and herbaceous, the Howard Park example should get the nod from consumers and critics alike. While it’s the fruit that drives character and appeal, I suspect that it was the winemaking that has gifted such an alluring mouth feel. While individual blocks of sauvignon blanc fruit were vinified on their own, some batches were hand-picked, whole bunch pressed and fermented in oak before blending took place. The blend of batches has amplified complexity and texture, and delivered a delightful roundness to the mouth feel. On the palate there are ample guava, passionfruit and tropical fruit flavours to pique the interest of savvie-philes, but also hints of nectarine, lantana and cashew on the finish. Zippy acidity ensures a dry and grassy conclusion that adds credibility and integrity and will no doubt enhance the wines’ appeal with industry boffins. This it was sauv blanc is meant to be! And at a RRP of $32, it’s good value. I’d rather have one of these than six lolly-waters from across the ditch!