2014 Mulderbosch Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

Tanzer’s Highest Rated Under-$12 “long-time Sauvignon Blanc superstar”

There are critics you can count on to be effusive with their praise and generous with their scores, even for marginal wines. Stephen Tanzer is not one of them. The founder of International Wine Cellar has always been a straight shooter, and his stingy scores are legendary. So when Tanzer is impressed, we pay attention. And when Tanzer awards 91 points to an under-$20 Sauvignon Blanc, let alone one from the New World?

Maybe we should have seen this coming. Tanzer has long recognized the great values coming out of South Africa, especially from what he calls “long-time Sauvignon Blanc superstar Mulderbosch Vineyards.” Once appealing only to the adventurous, South African wines, especially mineral whites, are increasingly swimming in the mainstream in the U.S. market. No bottle is better recognized on American shelves than Mulderbosch’s sleek Sauvignon Blanc.

Since 1989, Mulderbosch has been setting the pace for South Africa’s elite wine producers. Co-founders Larry Jacobs and Mike Dobrovic chose wisely when they bought their first vineyard. Less than 10 miles from where the Indian and Atlantic oceans crash into each other, gently sloped with perfect sun exposure, and a base of clay and limestone, it proved perfect for Sauvignon Blanc.

The 2014 vintage in South Africa’s Stellenbosch region was a true “winemaker’s vintage” — only the best winemakers knew how to correctly make the hard decisions at the crucial moments to make a great wine. 2014 was wetter than normal and indecisive winemakers were left holding the bag — in 2014, that meant fungal diseases and mildew. But at Mulderbosch, winemaker Adam Mason used the wet vintage to his advantage. He based the 2014 blend on the Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc parcels that are dry-farmed. These parcels require the heavy rains of a year like 2014 to reach their potential.

Shimmering yellow color with green tint. Pungent aromas of pink grapefruit, gunflint, and elderflower. This is a really classy style of Sauvignon Blanc, displaying both restraint and exuberance at the same time. Tanzer wrote: “Pliant and concentrated if still a bit laid-back, showing a lovely sugar/acid balance. The broad finish features brisk grapefruit and mineral flavors and sneaky length.” Then, almost out of character, he dropped 91 points on an under-$12 wine!

The highest-rated under-$12 Sauvignon Blanc EVER from Stephen Tanzer is now up for grabs. 490 cases made it stateside, 100 of which are earmarked for WineAccess. Only $11.99. A MUST-CASE-BUY for bargain-hunters, but lovers of crisp whites for all occasions will want to stock their cellars with two cases at this WineAccess-only price.

• ABV 13.28%
• Enjoy right away
• % Sauvignon Blanc