Frenzy, Marlborough (New Zealand) Sauvignon Blanc 2018

 I taste Kiwi Sauvignon Blancs in truly alarming numbers and amounts each year in the course of my work as a restaurant consultant, and that makes it pretty noteworthy when a new one shows up at a very high level of quality.  This is styled on the rounder, juicier side of the genre, with notable varietal and regional character but not too much pungency or tartness.  Which is to say:  You couldn’t mistake this for anything other than Marlborough Sauvignon, and it displays all the attributes that have made this category so historically popular, yet doesn’t veer toward any of the extremes that can put off the occasional sceptic.  Beautifully blended and popularly styled, yet still with character.  There’s real talent behind this wine.