2009 Ata Rangi Sauvignon Blanc Martinborough
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Tasting notes
The pristine 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, entirely sourced from Martinborough, has a well-defined, crisp, gooseberry and nettle-scented bouquet with just a hint of crushed stone. The palate is well balanced with touches of orange zest, crisp green apple and a touch of lime towards the dry, penetrating finish that invigorates the senses. Drink now-2012. Ata Rangi, along with Felton Road, was elected a ‘Kiwi Grand Cru’ during the Pinot Noir conference in Wellington in January 2010 and though that is not an ‘official’ classification, it is certainly deserved. Clive Paton continues to produce a finely crafted selection of Martinborough wines that are both animated and expressive. He told me that the benevolent 2008 growing season had a reasonable fruit set with a warm early season, quite a long summer and was fortunate to pick before and after the rain and as usual, Ata Rangi’s wines come highly recommended. Importer: Epic Wines, Santa Cruz, CA; tel. (800) 322-3742
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Restrained aromas of lime leaf, tarragon and pepper. Rich, round and expansive, showing good breadth but less cut than the 2008 version. This very ripe style comes off as a tad blurry, hinting at a cotton candy note.