The Story
The Babich Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 is a young Sauv Blanc sourced from mainly Estate vineyards (they own several in different sub-regions of Marlborough) and other carefully chosen contracted vineyards. Babich is a family-owned wine operation founded in 1916 and three generations of the Babich family currently oversee the operations. Marlborough is located on the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island and produces 2/3’s of New Zealand’s wine.
We have just entered 2020 and the Babich Sauvignon Blanc is a 2019 vintage which seems like this wine is released a bit too soon until you release that New Zealand has its summer when the US has its winter and vice versa. So, it is just a young wine, not meant for aging, which is fine for value-priced Sauvignon Blanc. Young Sauv Blanc smells and tastes like springtime in a bottle. There are some wine regions, such as Bordeaux, where Sauvignon Blanc is blended with Semillion and often oak barrel-aged, while I think Bordeaux Blanc wines are great, there is something about a well-made young Sauvignon Blanc.
This Sauv Blanc was fermented in stainless steel vats and uses both natural yeast and cultured yeast. The yeast used brings different flavors to the wine, so the use of both types of yeast indicates the winemaker was going for a particular outcome. This particular wine label was first introduced in 1991, so this wine has been a success for 30 years. This isn’t a wine you want to lay-down for a year or two, it will be at its best on the day you buy it and pop the top or actually unscrew the top. The alcohol content is 13%.
The Tasting Notes
The color is very pale sunshine yellow, just the hint of color. The nose is not shy, you can nose this Sauvignon Blanc from 10 paces away, there is a citrus, tropical fruit, grassy notes, apple, peach, pear, and limes, the aromas are bold, but rounded. This is a clean, crisp, bright Sauv Blanc. Every time I see NZ Sauvignon Blanc tasting notes from the producer they will almost always mention gooseberry, I don’t think I have ever seen as gooseberry much less tasted one so these tasting notes will be gooseberry free. It tastes of a mix of melon and lime, Anjou Pear, juicy apple, soft spice, and lightly grassy. The mid-palate has unsweetened pineapple, lemon creme, peach, and just a dash of tangerine. The acidity is solid, enough to allow the flavors room to unfold, but not enough to be sharp on the palate. The finish is soft, yet long.
The Summary
- The Babich Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is exactly what you want from NZ Sauv Blanc. Bold, but not too bold, loads of flavor and easy to drink.
- There is just a touch of cream on the mid-palate that puts this Sauvignon Blanc over the top. It is extremely enticing.
- I found the Babich on sale for $9.99, it is a bargain at that price and a good value at full price.
