£11, Sainsbury's; M&S and Waitrose soon
I always step out of the season of festive indulgence into the new year wanting this kind of dry white – a bright, bracingly crisp Marlborough Sauvignon from the latest vintage.
We haven't seen many bright, bracingly crisp January days to go with it yet, but that
needn't stop you enjoying the cascade of elderflower, lemon grass, gooseberry, passionfruit and fresh herb aromas and the purity and fruit richness of the palate. It's a wine that's snappy and invigorating but effortlessly enjoyable right through to its final wake-up ping of orange zest.
It's not a new wine, but the 2022 Reserve Sauvignon has a new label showing the flora and fauna in Yealands' vineyards in coastal Awatere and the bottle is lighter. The idea is to emphasise Yealands' commitment to sustainability and its biodiversity plan. Among other things, the plan protects and enhances wetlands, waterways, coastal and erosion-prone hill country and commits to planting over 1 million native trees across 270 ha.
Pair it with seafood (prawns, Thai crab cakes, scallops with pea purée, green lipped mussels); fish such as sea bream or bass baked on tomatoes and/or herbs, or with salsa verde or capers; tomato-stuffed baked red peppers; tomato and olive tarts; goat's cheeses and creamy Stilton.
If you're doing Veganuary, it's reassuringly vegan. If you're doing damp January, it's 12.5%. Empty bottle weight: 423g
Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Marlborough, New Zealand
£11, Sainsbury's; M&S and Waitrose are due to move to the 2022 vintage shortly.
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