£12.95, The Wine Society
I tasted this New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at the start of the year and noted that, brilliant though it was, it would be even better in a few months when the mouthwatering acidity had settled a bit more.
It’s time has come. Spring has sprung and so has the British asparagus season, although there are plenty of other good pairings (scroll down).
It’s hard to stand out in a field as crowded as Marlborough Sauvignon. Spoke Awatere 2023 does it with dazzling, resonant fruit – gooseberry, lime, apple, elderflower – streamlined saline minerality, mouthfilling intensity and pulsating freshness.
It comes from a single vineyard in Awatere, which is closer to the ocean, cooler, windier and later ripening than the other two Marlborough subregions, the Wairau Valley and Southern Valleys, resulting in a style of Sauvignon Blanc that leans a little more towards Sancerre.
Spoke is a collaboration between well-known New Zealand winemaker Ben Glover of Zephyr Wines and British Master of Wine Liam Steevenson. They aim to produce the best possible wines with as little negative impact as possible on the land. All the wines are certified sustainable. Another to look out for is Brink Sauvignon Semillon, especially the 2022 vintage when it reaches retailers.
Apart from asparagus, Spoke Awatere is a wine for shellfish, fried fish (including fish and chips), salmon or white fish with sorrel sauce, Thai green curries, goat’s cheese, feta, Caprese salad (mozzarella, tomato, basil), Greek salad, fresh tomato dishes, red peppers and vegetable fritto misto. 13.2%. Empty bottle weight: 428g.
Spoke Awatere Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Marlborough, New Zealand
£12.95, The Wine Society