video review: wine of the week

4th September 2011

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2011, New Zealand
There's an old saying that familarity breeds contempt, and that is a danger for bigger, widely distributed brands like Villa Maria, Concha y Toro and Torres: each produces consistently excellent wines at competitive prices, but their ubiquity means we tend to overlook them in search of something new. Well, this brand new 2011 edition of the popular Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc shows what a mistake that is, especially at the current Tesco promotional price: a powerful, vivacious and classic nose of gooseberry with green beans and passionfruit and more exotic mango and lychee notes. The palate is burstingly fresh, with those tropical notes draped over tight apple and citrus, and a long, dry and food-friendly finish. More details and food matching suggestions in the video. Widely available at around £9.99, but £6.78 until 6th September 2011 in Tesco.

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See previous wines of the week in the value archives