Scotchmans Hill 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, $25
It’s no secret that Sauvignon Blanc is one of my least favourite wine varieties, probably because the vast majority of it sold in Australia is fruity and overtly grassy. There are rare gems that are a little more restrained and this is one of them. Produced in the cool climate of Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, it had four months of lees contact, 10% of the wine fermented wild in older French oak, and a good six months in bottle before release. All of this has added interesting textural layers to the lovely tropical fruit flavours, resulting in an elegant wine that still has Sav Blanc’s trademark freshness and zing.
