As autumn moves swiftly and somewhat bone chillingly into winter in New Zealand, it's a full bodied dry white wine that took my fancy this week. Not because of personal preference but because of the exceptional skill of coaxing complexity from the most widely produced grape in this country - Sauvignon Blanc.

This wine was released in the second half of last year and it replaces the outstanding forerunner, Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Semillon - which has, in a way, been reborn in the winery's new-ish Minuetto, but that's another story. 

Here is a wine of the week that will surprise and please wine lovers, year round, due to its complex aromas, dry flavours and layers of taste. If Sauvignon has not been in your glass recently, try this. 

18.5/20

2023 Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Blanc Whole Bunch Fermented RRP $28

This is the second vintage of Pegasus Bay's Whole Bunch Fermented Sauvignon Blanc and it is an excellent textural expression of Sauvignon with aromas of green herbs, flinty savouriness and a beautiful dry, lingering finish. Medium to full bodied in style, bone dry and layered in taste - this is an exceptional and different take on Sauvignon Blanc, offering great value for money and a very good match to seafood.