Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:  Rated as Outstanding.  "Pale, bright yellow.   Musky nose dominated by ginger. Suave and juicy on the palate, with ripe citrus fruit and spice flavors complemented by a touch of sweetness. Builds nicely on the back half, finishing with subtle length. Combines very good depth with an attractive light touch. Nothing extreme about this nicely balanced wine. A steal at the price." Sept/Oct 2011

Winery:  "Intense gooseberry, tomato leaf, fresh cut fennel and red capsicum characters underpinned by the classically pungent melon, guava and passion fruit aromatics, immediately fill the senses.  The palate is extraordinarily balanced with bright seamless acidity, concentration of brambly grapefruit, mineral lemongrass flavours and a long, supple, lingering finish."

Wired For Wine:  Have we got a great weekend treat for you!  Our good friend, Chef Rachel Willen has hand-crafted some wonderful recipes to go with today's Wither Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.  Chef Rachel writes a popular food blog called FoodFix.  We love her cooking because she's very supportive of local farms and food sources as well as all things organic, and she puts lots of heart, wit and humor into her creations.  Today's recipes have come to be as the bounty of her summer garden is coming to a close.  While considering which one is right for you, pour yourself a generous, chilled glass of this crisp Sauvignon Blanc and nibble on some broiled oysters with garlic breadcrumbs.  That ought to whet your appetite.  The perfect acidity, citrus and other fruits, assortment of spice/ginger notes and great balance make this New Zealand white an unbeatable partner for vegetables, herbs and salad, lighter pastas, chicken, fish and shellfish, and, say it with us winelovers: TURKEY!  Chef Rachel has created three different pestos for our Wither Hill: basil, lemon, olive; sundried and fresh tomatoes, capers, parmesan cheese; and roasted red bell pepper, almonds, shallots, and pine nuts.  All three will bring the house down tossed with the pasta of your choice.  Or, grill up some salmon filets and top them with a spoonful of the pesto which appeals to you most.  If you still need time to decide, cut yourself a thick slice of fresh bread and spread one of these pestos on it to help you keep up your strength.  Once the meal is winding down, we suggest you open another beautifully balanced bottle and savor another glass or two with some dreamy goat cheese crottins.  Hail to the chef!

Size:  750ml; screw cap
Varietal:  100% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol:  13.0%
Region:  Marlborough, New Zealand