Winegrowers of Ara (New Zealand) Composite Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Winegrowers of Ara is a new name on the Marlborough scene, Ara being an ancient river terrace in the region. All wines carrying the Ara name are approved by a classification panel of wine industry professionals, and the bottles bear a back label seal and a necktag certifying they have passed the process. Bottled in screwcap, this has a typical Marlborough nose expressing a vibrant melange of ripe, lychee and mango tropical fruit, with a streak of herbaceous, asparagus and nettle character. There’s a hint of a peachy, ripe stone fruits holding this together in the middle. On the palate there’s a bursting, vivid fruitiness, with plenty of sweet-edge tropical fruit, edged with a pithy lemon and grapefruit acidity. This is a nicely made wine, that is typically Marlborough, but avoids the excessively sweet/sour character that can make the wines a little disjointed. 9.95, Wine Direct
