Te Mata, Cape Crest, Hawke's Bay

I haven't tried this in almost a year, during which time it has come together nicely and is much more in line with what I've come to expect from this NZ Sauvignon Blanc. Gone is the austerity of last year. It's still searingly acidic, but now balanced nicely by a rich creamy palate and the emergence of more minerality on the nose and palate.

+ 8% Semillon, 4% Sauvignon Gris Untoasted oak Gorgeous nose: some wax and oil, exotic, tropical, some lees/wood, creamy apple and custard. Gorgeous. Palate shows good intensity, super concentration, some wild acidity – quite sappy and very juicy, mineral too. More exotic fruit and skins, sort of fruity and savoury, very complex… fascinating really, and some tension.

Dorado pálido. Nariz expresiva, bastante vegetal, toques de "pis de chat", espárragos, algo de menta inglesa, pomelo rosa y apuntes de flor blanca. En boca tiene buen ataque, fresco, con notable acidez, cierto volumen, largo y bastante mineral. Persistente y con notable complejidad.

Returning to this after 6 months, after finding it too austere in March. It remains an austere wine, but not undrinkably so anymore. Medium yellow color. Pear, white peach, guava, flint, toast and orange blossom on the nose, along with significant grassy notes. That is echoed on the palate, which remains a bit grassy alongside peach, pear and flint. Paired nicely with a Korean-style fish, drank less well without food. Going to give the remaining bottles a few more months …

Just taking a glass today. Very grassy. Citrusy. I'm not very impressed today. Brb. Edit: Peach. But I do think this needs time. 86 for now.

A perennial favorite, so thrilled to see the 2019 vintage appear, but currently not finding this as good as prior years. Pale gold color. Notes of grapefruit, white peach, flint, black currant leaf and a hint of passionfruit and some sort of funk I could not put a name to. This is currently too austere for my taste: searingly acidic, which washes out the subtle peach, grapefruit and smokiness. Given prior vintages, hoping this may mellow a bit by the …