The forecast was for the first rainfree weekend since May. Yeah, right.

At after-work drinks yesterday, we did a wine-tasting of some of the already released 2008 Sauvignon Blancs.

/>The candidates:
1. Lake Chalice (Marlborough)
2. Yealands (Marlborough)
3. Villa Maria Private Bin (Marlborough)
4. Brookfields (Hawkes bay)
5. Te Mata Woodthorpe (Hawkes Bay)
6. Jules Taylor (Marlborough)
7. Allan Scott Estate Selection (Marlborough)

The pick was definitely the Jules Taylor which I'd already tried this year & loved. The 2007 edition won trophy at last year's Air NZ wine Arards. The 2008 is comparable.

The Yealands (a new winery) is a fair example of the Awatere sub-region, a more herbaceous style of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with loads of capsicum. The Villa Maria was a decent Marlborough SB from their Private Bin (entry level) range.

/>The rest I didn't care for, with some exhibiting too much residual sugar, or caramelly characters that I don't think go with a Sauvignon Blanc or were bland & watery. The group was a real mixed-bag so it will be interesting to see how the later releases go. Many wineries release their better wines later.