When I bought 2011 Starborough Sauvignon Blanc and 2010 Kemblefield Sauvignon Blanc, the intention was to compare them, and show the difference between two wines from the same region.  Same area, same grape, same style.   Even though there was a vintage difference, there couldn’t be many Sauvignon Blancs less alike than these two.  With that said, if the Kemblefield is green, leafy, and loaded with veggies, what does 2011 Starborough Sauvignon Blanc bring to the party?  

Sight:  A brighter, lighter gold.

Smell:  Passionfruit, gooseberries, and plenty of lime, light dragonfruit,  grassy-herbal notes, and touches of crisp green apple.

Sip:  Bone dry, but there’s a nice gooseberry lead with plenty of acid, a moderate mouth feel.  Larger than might be expected for sauvignon blanc.  There’s a lot of gooseberry, with passionfruit, pineapple, and lime.  There are still a lot of herbal notes though.

Savor:  It grows more gooseberry laced as it gets lingers, before turning slightly ruby grapefruit.

Overall, 2011 Starborough Sauvignon Blanc is much more relaxed and easy going Sauvignon Blanc than it’s competition. For beginners, this is more of the place to start, with more fruit flavors, less veggies, but all the green notes and plenty of the gooseberry / ‘cat pee’ smell. It’s an enjoyable jaunt that will go well with plenty of salads and lighter fish dishes. A good stand in for Oyster Bay in the under $10 range.

Verdict: Passionate about green, but not leafy
Marlborough, New Zealand
Price: $8.99