2. Nepenthe Pinnacle Petraea, 2018
Australia, you may be surprised to learn, is a huge consumer of Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, offering proof that Aussies love Savvy B just as much as the rest of the world.
Although Australia may be best known its production of full flavoured, rich whites from the Chardonnay grape, the country can also craft light, refreshing, nettle-scented wines from Sauvignon – after all, it has a long history of producing delicious, bone dry and searingly crisp Rieslings and Semillons from regions such as the Clare and Hunter valleys respectively.
So, our next Sauvignon star is Aussie, and hails from the Adelaide Hills, an area of altitudinous vineyards in the Mount Lofty Ranges outside the city of Adelaide.
This wine is a little different from the others mentioned above, and the clue comes with its name: Petraea, which is the species of Quercus, or oak, used to make French barriques – commonly used to age Chardonnay in Australia and worldwide.
So, this Sauvignon has seen some influence from oak, with the wine matured in large-format French barrels to bring some creamy flavours and texture to its dominant flavours of peach, lemon and sage.
The combination is delicious, with the added richness from the wood used during the winemaking process making this Sauvignon suitable for sipping before dinner, but also serving with a range of foods, if not heavy red-meat based feasts.
Wine: Nepenthe Pinnacle Petraea
Vintage: 2018
Region: Adelaide Hills
Country: Australia
Made by: Australian Vintage
Medal: Silver – The Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters 2019
Approximate retail price (UK): £18
