Hawke’s Bay dreaming
Stephen Wong MW in Cellar Talk Become a member to view this article
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Guide to Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon Feature Week
Kenzie Little Dreamer Sauvignon 2024, Hawke’s Bay, NZD $33
100% organic sauvignon blanc from the limestone-rich Raukawa Hills, south of the Heretaunga Plains, the Little Dreamer is Dave Mackintosh’s new-wave take on the variety. 90% of the fruit remained on skins for 18 hours before wild fermenting in old oak puncheons, while the remaining 10% fermented on skins for 18 days, giving just that added texture and complexity without turning it into an amber wine. Fantastic food wine.
Intriguing notes of earth, smoke, dried herbs and spice with grapefruit and melon flavours, arrayed over noticeably chalky phenolics from skin fermentation, this has amber-wine structure with a clean, vetiver and tealeaf savouriness before finishing dry and mineral. Refreshing rather than oxidative in style, this low-intervention macerated white is food-friendly and will unfold in the mid-term. (Diam)
Score: 93 ★★★★ – view original tasting note
Alcohol: 12.0%
Drink: now to 2029
Food: sushi and tempura platter
Stockists: Kenzie Wines; Advintage and Fine-O-Wine, Auckland and online (NZ)
Ranked: #27 of 168 2024 Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand
Awarded:Â Top Rank