2021 Coquerel - Sauvignon Blanc Calistoga Le Petit

What’s most striking about Malleron’s bottle—something the Sancerre obsessives will pick up on from the first sip—is the texture. Yes, this wine has the flinty minerality and floral bouquet. Yes, it’s got the straight line of bright, clean flavors and zippy acidity. But Malleron’s bottle is bolstered with a bit more ripeness—and combined with all of the above, it equals Sancerre at its best.

Unlike most Marlborough Sauvignons, the 2021 Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc is cropped low and hand-harvested in a bid to increase concentration and restraint, respectively. This is a Scrappy Doo of a wine with its youthful "lemme at 'em" vivacity. It has masses of dissolved CO2, clearly visible on pouring, which provides a slight crackle in the mouth. The wine is citrus-driven, with lemon and lime meeting pineapple and more subtle details of jasmine, green herbs and flint. The finish is powerful and intense, potentially due to the naturally low yields of 2021 adding that extra punch. Rebecca Gibb - Vinous Media (92)