04 Huia, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Grapefruit with a tropical edge. That so-close-to-guava nose never opens, keeping Huia from being as cloyingly fruity as other New Zealand sauvs. The sharp citrus is first. Distinctly red bell pepper flesh as well on the nose and palate. Often, when I see this flavor, it tastes like a mistake, but again here it merges very well with the grapefruit, adding fullness to the otherwise edgy fruit. Sweet pepper nose gets bigger as this warms, then yields to Golden Delicious apples with soft Tahitian vanilla mixed in. Midpalate is medium full with a few sweeping secondary flavors. Dry, clean finish -- powerfully acidic -- with more grapefruit.