The 2009 Te Ahu is 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Only free run juice is used, barrel fermented in 500L French puncheons, about 60% new, with wild yeast. It gives pronounced notes of warm lemon, passion fruit, lime leaf and touches of ginger and coriander seed. Rich, full bodied with a nice satiny texture it has a good backbone of crisp acid and a long finish. Approachable now, it should develop and cellar to 2015+. Mike and Jo Eaton have staked-out and planted a very impressive hillside vineyard in the Omaka Valley, focused mainly at producing high quality Marlborough Pinot Noir, though they also have the magic touch when it comes to Sauvignon and Merlot of all things. Winemaking is hands-off here, with a focus on the immaculately tended, hand nurtured vineyards.Importer: Sober Imports, New York, NY; tel. (914) 715-1243