review: Villa Maria 2009 Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc

With the warmer weather on its way, I am looking forward to plenty of alfresco dining and drinking some quality sauvignon blancs. I love a good sauvignon blanc, especially if it has come from the Marlborough region of New Zealand.

Awarded New Zealand winemaker Villa Maria Estate recently launched its 2009 Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc. I have been a big fan of Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc for a few years now, and their new vintage did not disappoint!

This vibrant Sauvignon Blanc is bursting with a fruit-salad-bowl of flavours including ripe gooseberry, passionfruit, fresh citrus lime and exotic herbaceous aromas. With layers of juicy flavours, intensity and fullness with a refreshing crisp, clean and racy finish, it is an ideal accompaniment to chicken and seafood dishes. I enjoyed a bottle last week with pan-fried salmon and lemon-dill tomatoes and it complemented the dish perfectly.

The 2009 Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc features fruit grown from Villa Maria vineyards throughout the Wairau and Awatere Valleys in the Marlborough region. To achieve the quality and depth of flavour that this wine delivers, Villa Maria harvests its grapes at varying levels of ripeness over a five-week period.

Villa Maria wines are available Australia-wide at good wine retailers. A bottle of the 2009 Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc retails for around the $20 mark. You will also fine Villa Maria wines in many of Australia’s top restaurants, including Otto and Icebergs Dining Room.

Enjoy this exuberant and delightful wine.