City Girl's Wine Journal- Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Let's just say I was having one of those nights. My day didn't start out very well and it wasn't improving much as the evening progressed. Maybe it was the weather- the oppressive heat and humidity. Maybe just a passing phase. Mopey, anxious, worried- about what I'm not sure, but I knew I needed a glass of wine. Stat.

That's where Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008 comes in. The Nobilo winery was founded back in the 1930s when the family, fearing the impending war, fled Croatia for New Zealand. The Nobilo family had been making wine for nearly 300 years in their native country, but uprooted and took that expertise to a new land and began again. At first they struggled getting New Zealanders to embrace wine the way Europeans did, but in the end, that drive to succeed paid off, and today the Nobilo wines are enjoyed worldwide.

Which is how I got to experience the Sauvignon Blanc here in the middle of Iowa. This pale yellow wine was very fruity and not too sweet. The usual grassy and herbaceous notes typical of a Sauvignon Blanc were present, the slightest bit of minerality that I find very common in New Zealand wines, and believe it or not- maybe it was the age of the bottle, but a slight banana edge to it. Maybe it was the lush mouthfeel and creamy texture. Reading the winery's tasting notes they describe a "cut tomato plant" essence and I agree- the herby aroma has that faint familiarity.

I loved reading about this wine also. They harvest these grapes at night, which is something I had never thought of- does the time of day affect the finished product? Yes! Nighttime harvests protect the fruit's flavors and pressing them immediately and getting the skins out of the way very early keep the tannins very low and ups the "sipping quality" of this beauty of a wine.

Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with spicier foods, curries, and seafood. It can help tame the richness of roast poultry dishes as well. It's a great buy for the money, usually in the $15 range, and obviously, ages pretty well. My bottle was a 2008 that has been cellared since then. 12.5% alcohol gives it some potency and a nice bite, with a fair amount of acidity. I highly recommend this wine and will be looking for a new vintage to try in comparison (and to stash away for a few years).