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Early on in my wine journey, I learned that New Zealand was a country to pay attention to for great wines, in particular the wine appellation Marlborough. Just as Napa in California is known for its cabernets, Provence in France for rosés and Argentina’s Mendoza for malbec, Malborough is your go-to region for sauvignon blanc.
In fact, as New Zealand’s largest wine-growing region, it has an international reputation for producing some of the best sauvignon blancs in the world.
So it is no surprise that I truly enjoyed the 2019 Malborough Sauvignon Blanc by Duck Hunter. Taste for yourself why Wine Spectator gave it 91 points. For me, it all starts with a chilled bottle and my favorite wine glass. Some may have thoughts about a screw cap vs. a cork, but to me, good wine is good wine.
Once off, I noticed a sweet aroma of apricots as I poured my first glass. The wine, that is pale gold in color, gave off subtle fruity notes of peach and nectarine that linger on the nose and palate after each sip. At just under 13% alcohol, I would say this is a very balanced wine when it comes to acidity and sugar. Something I am very sensitive about.
Red and White Duck Hunter Wines Take Center Stage
Sauvignon blanc is one I recommend to novice wine drinkers looking to navigate up the wine ladder from sweet wines into whites. This one will now be included. Because I enjoy still whites and sparkling wines over reds, I tend to ignore suggested pairings and have it with whatever is on my menu for dinner, and if I can’t wait, lunch, because it is 5 o’clock somewhere.
But don’t worry red wine drinkers, especially those who love pinot noir, you’re not left out. Accompanied with my sauvignon blanc was a pale ruby red 2018 pinot noir. I did let the bottle aerate for about 30 minutes before pouring a glass, giving it a swirl and taking a whiff. The burst of cherry notes on this was amazing.
I am also getting a little bit of plum and for me the slight jammy mouthfeel is so comforting. You’ll barely notice the tannins and the smooth finish on this wine is everything. I do like pinot noirs and this is one that I would drink again. A burger with the works was my select pairing, but they are suggesting lamb, pork and duck, which of course works just fine.
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If you like wines from Napa, definitely give the New Zealand gems a try. Both wines are available through Stratus Wine & Spirits with the sauvignon going for $20 and the pinot noir for $30.
Visit Duck Hunter online for more information about their wines.