The Niche, Regional Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2012

I am not normally an advocate of Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc, but if the style floats your boat, you may as well drink one that is made by Australians and in a palate-friendly form.

The Niche Regional Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is made by a boutique winery based in Tanunda in South Australia’s Barossa Valley but is, in fact, made from fruit sourced across the ditch. The 2012 vintage is not the current release (because the 2014 has recently hit the shelves) but is still drinking well enough for next time the silverware comes out.

It’s straw coloured in the glass and has a fragrant cut peach and frangipani nose. Where many of the Marlborough Sav Blancs I’ve tried can become somewhat candied with overripe passion fruit flavours that dominate across the top palate, The Niche has enough minerality and natural acidity to give a degree of crispness to the finish and some definition to the citric and guava characters. The texture is delightful as there is just a hint of creaminess which puts some meat on the bones of its tropical fruit skeleton.

It’s undoubtedly fashioned by the winemaker to be enjoyed as an aperitif, rather than splashed into a Riedel glass next to your dinner plate. But at less than $25 a bottle, it’s as good a buy as any Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and at least with The Niche, you’ll be supporting an Australian winemaker.