Tonight we’re checking out another sauvignon blanc from New Zealand, and this one comes from a box. Not a boxy box, but an octagon-shaped box from Octavin. These boxes hold 3 liters of wine, which is the equivalent of four 750ML bottles. For me, there are pros and cons of boxed wines. The cons include the fact that you don’t get to go through the ritual of pulling a cork. Enjoying wine can be experiential and pulling a cork is part of the experience. But the pros for boxed wine include the fact that you don’t have to open bottles as often, after all there are four bottles worth in here. And bag-in-box wine stays fresh much longer than wine in bottles. You can work on one box for a month or longer and it will still be good, while wine in a bottle goes bad within a couple days of opening.
This Silver Birch sauvignon blanc is from Marlborough, which is located at the northern tip of the southern island of New Zealand. This is the largest wine district in New Zealand and is well known for its sauvignon blanc. In fact, New Zealand is known more for sauvignon blanc than any other type of wine, with more hectares of sauvignon blanc grapes planted than all other varieties combined.
The nose is a little bit tight on this sauvignon blanc — that is to say there’s not a lot of intensity to the aromas. Melon is the most prominent aroma, with green apple and and mango wafting underneath it. In the mouth, the acidity gives it life and flavors of melon soaked in lime juice. The finish is medium in length and tastes like green apples. There’s not a lot of intensity or concentration to this wine, but it’s passable as a subtle sauvignon blanc.
Wine: Silver Birch
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 13%
Rating: 83
Price: $23.99 for 3 liters
Find Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc with Snooth
Here’s what others thought of the this wine:
Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.