2004 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc

Pale color. Smoky herbs, lime peel, rye bread and jalapeno pepper on the nose. Rich and expansive for New Zealand sauvignon, with citrus zest flavors complicated by a bracing peppery quality as well as a suggestion of passion fruit. Full and quite dry, with floral and mineral notes emerging. Finishes with refreshingly bitter-edged flavors of quinine, citrus pith and pepper. Offers a terrific combination of palate weight and grip. (My sample in the U.S. showed a somewhat stronger peppery, herbaceous aspect and merited 89 points.)