Pegasus Bay 2019 Sauvignon Semillon 750ml

There are few SBS blends in New Zealand, so if one winery was going to buck the trend, it was going to be Pegasus Bay. They've been making a Sauvignon Semillon cuvée since the late 1990s, and the 2019 Sauvignon Semillon is the usual 70% Sauvignon/30% Sémillon blend with a characteristic aromatic profile that's all florals, struck flint and nectarines. The Sauvignon is fermented in tank while the Sémillon undergoes its transformation from grape to wine in large oak puncheons before spending 10 months on lees and a further year marrying in bottle ­– hence 2019 is the current release. It has a light spritz on entry, giving a lively start to proceedings. The small 2019 crop ripened fully and offers an intensity of concentration on the midpalate that packs a punch, making this a Sauvignon blend that's not for the faint-hearted. The finish offers up a light note of minted peas and a hint of phenolics. It's idiosyncratic but it's also intriguing.

Score: 92 points -- Rebecca Gibb, Vinous, 2022