Matua Estate Paretai Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (about $20US, $25 Cdn)

Made with fruit from the Awatere Valley in the Marlborough region of New Zealand, the Paretai has floral and mild honeycomb aromas and a deceptively light straw color. The first sip brings a powerful hit of tropical fruit and hints of honey flowers, with zippy white grapefruit and delicate pear and apricot closing out the whirlwind of tastes. This wine has excellent balance and much more intrigue than the usual grassy citrus-dominated Sauvignon Blanc. When people rave about great New Zealand wines, hopefully this is the kind of bottle they’re talking about. It’s aromatic and flavorful without being either cloying or acidic – a showstopper from the first sniff to the last remnants of the long-lingering finish.

Quaffability Rating: 91