The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc comes from 6 vineyards, 3 vineyards were hand-picked, hand-sorted and whole cluster pressed to get away from that ‘fruit-bomb character’, according to Brian. There’s a small proportion of barrel fermentation and a little wild yeast employed here. The wine presents intense aromas of fresh grapefruit, pineapple, lemon curd and a touch of orange peel. Crisp in the mouth with good concentration and balance, there’s a nice silkiness to the texture and a long finish. Drink it now to 2012. Former chief winemaker at Seresin, Brian Bicknell set up his own Mahi label in 2001 with an aim to use his considerable knowledge and experience of the lay of the Marlborough lands to focus on crafting wines of single vineyard expressions. In 2006 he purchased the Cellier Le Brun winery to use as his base and gave it an impressively understated makeover. The five vineyards that Brian oversees are all certified organic. Total production is a small yet respectable 14,000 cases per annum of premium wines that are truly punching above their price weights in terms of individual character and intrinsic quality.Importer: Maverick Wine Co, Bensenville, IL; tel. (630) 860-4600