2019 Sauvignon Piere

The wildly intense bouquet of the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Piere first leans toward the tropical spectrum, as kiwi and sour melon give way to pungent florals. However, time in the glass brings forward a more mellow and sweetly perfumed mix of ground ginger and lemon curd contrasted by fresh sea air. This is a textural thrill-ride, both glycerol and enveloping in feel, soothing the palate with notes of ripe citrus and peach, yet with a wonderful balance of acidity that creates lift and a more delicate feel to the experience. Nearly a minute goes by, and nuances of young mango, orange zests and custard echo throughout the finale; yet the end note here is one of freshness. There is an amazing amount of pleasure to be found here, and while I don’t see the 2019 as the longest-lived rendition of Piere, it will make a lot of people happy over the medium term.

The purity of fruit in this is really something, offering salt, chalk, sliced mango and papaya. It’s full and phenolic with layers of fruit and so much richness at the end. Yet, it’s ever so long and intense. Lasts for minutes. Drink or hold.