WINE TASTINGS

The 2020 sauvignon blanc crop shows signs of brilliance despite trying times, says MARY-THERESE BLAIR.

The best sauvignon blanc and rosé

THERE’S SOMETHING magical about the time when the year’s new wines are released, when the work from the past year culminates in 750ml of liquid gold. It’s an exciting time in a normal year, but as we know, 2020 was no normal year. The nationwide lockdown came at harvest, a crucial time for the wine industry. Thankfully the government agreed that the wine industry should be considered an essential service, so harvest could continue. Additional regulations around safety, appropriate distancing and work bubbles had to be strictly adhered to, making the taxing job of harvesting grapes all the more difficult.

The good news is that the fruit of 2020 has been lauded by viticulturists and winemakers alike as some of the best they have ever seen. Already showing the hallmarks of ageability beyond what New Zealand sauvignon blanc had previously been thought capable of, head judge Ben Glover advises watching out for these 2020 sauvignons not just this year, but in future.

BEST BUYS

Those wines offering an outstanding mix of quality and price are awarded Best Buy status. Price points differ, depending on the varietal, but if you see the Best Buy sticker you can rest assured you’re getting a great wine at an excellent price. Look out for the sticker on wine bottles at all good wine retailers.