If you’ve read my past #TGTaste posts, you’ll often find that I was a bit nervous stepping out of my tasting “comfort zone,” but always found myself pleasantly surprised. With regard to this #TGTaste on May 16, this was not the case at all. I love Sauvignon Blanc, so I was very excited to participate.
Since I live and often taste alone, I decided to focus on the 2011 Villa Maria Estate Sauvignon Blanc Private Bin, Marlborough. I tried the wine cold and at that point, the flavors were predominantly gooseberry, lemon, and lime. That’s OK with me, because I love tart citrus. Before this tasting, I thought that was how New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc was supposed to taste. However, once the wine warmed to nearly room temperature, it was much more complex. I could taste the sweeter fruits such as papaya and passionfruit, along with some great acidity, perfect for food pairing. I prepared a shrimp and scallop scampi pasta and bell pepper dish, which turned out to be a nice pairing because the buttery, garlic sauce, bell peppers, and shellfish brought out the fruit flavor variety even more.
The specs:
2011 Villa Maria Estate Sauvignon Blanc Private Bin
Region: Marlborough, New Zealand
Varieties: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol: 13.0%
SRP: $14.99
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Silver – Royal Easter Show Wine Awards 2012 (NZ)
Silver – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2011 (UK)
Silver – Marlborough Wine Show 2011 (NZ)
great post beth! we love having you as part of our TGTASTE program. thanks, leslie, head TG
Thanks, Leslie! Being a ThirstyGirl and participating in #TGTaste is lots of fun!
The pasta look tremendous!