Once again to Trader Joe's for more of that Sauvignon Republic Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2009 that I last reported it.
It was just too good, and went too fast.
And when I got to Trader Joe's I found that was indeed the case: it was just too good, was priced too well, and went too fast. For it was all gone, and the wine manager said there would be no more.
But the wife had commanded, so I perused the SB offerings of the day and noticed one that might suffice.
Same vintage, and it was also from the south island, and the price was attractive. Could it possibly fill the bill?
Why, yes; yes it could.
Picton Bay Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2009 $7.99US (and no sales tax)
For a mere $7.99, this is a perfectly serviceable wine. Redolent of gooseberries, audaciously grassy and grapefruity and sour lemon; pungently herbal and sagelike in the nose---perhaps just one green pepper too much, actually; it's a big, audacious nosefull---the wine is fat and foolish in the middle, with the flavor and structure going loose and flabby. But then it comes back and finishes strong, with a sleek, polished, streak of piercing acidity and minerality that lingers forever.
Although I suspect there's either some hastily harvested green grapes here, or some post fermentation manipulation, and for that reason the wine is not as well balanced as it should be---the middle palate is far too blowsy---and I wouldn't hold it for more than a short while, right now this is a great, nicely priced SB in the flagrant New Zealand style.
Don't hold it: buy it and drink it, and you'll have spent your money well.
I daresay we'll be unscrewing a few caps of this one over the summer.