Tasting Notes: 2013 Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

Appearance: Very light yellow, almost white, translucent.  No legs whatsoever.

Aroma:  It's all citrus to me.  A hint of lemon and lime, but primarily grapefruit.

Mouthfeel:  Light, rolls right off the tongue.  A little bit of acidity leaves your mouth watering.

Flavors:  Refreshingly acidic and citrusy.  Lemons, limes, a hint of fresh cut grass, and a decent amount of grapefruit, though the grapefruit is not as prominent as it is on the nose.  Just a hint of melon to cut through the acidity here.

Overall:  Not my personal favorite, because I have an aversion to grapefruit.  But the grapefruit is not nearly as overwhelming as the nose left me to expect.  A pretty well balanced Sauv Blanc with citrus, a little tropical fruit, and just a touch of grass, so something for almost every Sauv Blanc drinker.  Not one I would buy for myself, but definitely one I would take to a party or suggest to someone who likes Sauv Blanc and doesn't mind that grapefruit.

Tasting Notes: 2011 "It's a Headsnapper" Sauvignon Blanc

This is a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that I'm not 100% sure how I came across.  It may have been a gift from a rep or distributor honestly, so without doing more research, I have no idea how much it costs or where it might be available.

Appearance: Pours a very light, very clear golden color, as expected from a sauv blanc.  No legs.

Aromas:  I get a little bit of tropical fruit, kiwi, melon, etc. but mostly acidity, in the form of grapefruit with a slight touch of lime.

Mouthfeel:  Incredibly light, rolls right off the tongue.

Flavors:  Bold.  Starts out very fruity, with kiwi, and melon, and finishes with a lot of acidity, both lime and tart green apple.  Don't get any of the grapefruit I got on the nose on the palate with this one.  Pretty crisp finish, although there's a slight lingering green apple flavor.

Overall:  My kind of sauvignon blanc.  Still light, crisp, and drinkable, but not shy with the flavors.  The contrast between the very soft but bold tropical fruit flavors at the front and the lime and green apple at the finish is great, and makes you want to take another sip to really appreciate both sets of flavor.  Definitely a wine I'll be trying to find in the near future.

Tasting Notes: 2012 Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Appearance: Pours a light, straw yellow color.  No legs.
Aroma: Grapefruit, a touch of lemon, and a slightly herbaceous aroma.
Mouthfeel: Light, smooth, rolls right across the palate.
Flavors: Bright, fresh, tropical fruit on the front.  A touch of grapefruit toward the end, but nothing overwhelming.  Smoother, more lingering finish than most sauvignon blancs, leaving a fresh, bright, tropical fruit (melon, pineapple, a little grapefruit) lingering.  A little bit of an herbaceous taste, but definitely more fruit forward.

Overall: I was really pleasantly surprised by this one.  It is pretty balanced.  Dry but still fruity.  A touch of herbaceous aroma and flavor which gives it some structure, but very strong fruit notes as well.  There are definitely some grapefruit notes, but they don't overpower the ripe melon, pineapple, or herbaceous flavors, which I appreciated.  Will definitely drink this one again.

Tasting Notes: 2011 Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc

Appearance: Light, bright, almost white.  No legs when swirled.

Aroma: Bright, fresh, grapefruit, lemon, a hint of grass.

Mouthfeel: Very light, rolls right over the palate, very drinkable and refreshing.

Flavor:  Complex and varied.  I get everything from a canteloupe or honeydew melon flavor, to grapefruit, to fresh lemon and lime.  A slight herbal, grassy note.  Crisp, but leaves a refreshing citrus note which lingers for a bit.

Overall: Pretty good New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.  Refreshing, light, drinkable, without being one-note or boring.  Great for a hot day, and could probably pair well with a variety of food, but is also drinkable on its own.  Not stellar but for the price, a pretty good buy.

Tasting Notes: 2011 Star Lane Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

This wine is a Sauvignon Blanc out of the U.S.'s newest (unless I missed something) AVA, the Happy Canyon AVA in Santa Barbara County.

Appearance: Bright, bold, yellow, color.  No legs when swirled in glass.

Aroma: Very strong lemon and grapefruit.  Even when the bottle was opened, before pouring, it gives off a very fresh citrus smell. 

Mouthfeel: Light and smooth, a little bit of tart astringency leaves the mouth dried out at the end.

Flavor: Very, very, grapefruit forward.  Get a hint of tropical fruit in the middle of the palate, and the finish is back to graprefruit, and lingers for quite some time.  I can't really pick up much past the almost astringent grapefruit flavor.

Overall: I'm not a grapefruit fan, so Sauvignon Blancs are kind of hit or miss with me.  This wine has a pleasent aroma, beautiful color, and a very drinkable, refreshing body.  If I didn't have such a strong dislike of grapefruit, this seems like it would be a great, refreshing, drinkable white on a  hot summer day.  Probably not one that I will personally go out of my way to drink again, though.