Laithwaites Wine - Mission Estate Hawkes Bay 'Greenmeadows' Sauvignon Blanc

Tasting note
Colour - Pale straw with youthful green glints.

Aroma - Gooseberry, green grass and passionfruit aromas.

Taste - Zingy lemon and lime fruit with riper gooseberry notes. Full of zest and vigour and juicy fruit.

Type:Still White Wine	Country:New Zealand	Appellation:Hawke's Bay
Grape Type:Sauvignon Blanc	Drink Before:End of 2009	Style:Dry
Alcohol:13%	Bottle Size:75cl	Bottle Code:26725

Serving suggestions
This crisp Sauvignon is a delight to drink on its own. Enjoy also with avocado and prawns, cerviche (thinly sliced, raw fish marinaded in lime), or salmon and vegetable kebabs. Drink by end 2009.

Description
New Zealand didn't register on the world stage of wine until the 1970s, when Cloudy Bay's Sauvignon Blanc was launched. It made a huge impact around the globe and so New Zealand gained a reputation for world-class Sauvignon Blanc, particularly from Marlborough.

They rival the quality of even the finest from the Loire's Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, but are quite different in style. The French ones are flinty, steely, crisp and reserved, while the Kiwi versions are more 'in your face' and full of zippy lime and lemon character with an asparagus edge.

Established in 1851, the Mission Estate is New Zealand's oldest winery. Once a home for Marist priests and brothers, Mission Estate has an outstanding reputation in New Zealand with many gold medals to its name.

Today, Mission Estate is also Hawke's Bay's most important independent winery. In 1996, the South African Peter Holley bought the estate and invested much in both the cellar and its vineyards and the quality of the wines has leapt up. Winemaker is Paul Mooney, who has been there 30 years, and has gained fresh impetus from new management. There are three main vineyards: Gimblett Road, Mere Road and Greenmeadows, which has been planted since 1910.