92 pts Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Sep/Oct 2010
Pale bright yellow. Gingery peach and curry powder aromas are complemented by smoky low tones and lifted by pepper and white flowers. Very ripe, tactile flavors of yellow fruits and smoky, dusty minerality spread out impressively to saturate the palate, with a bit of CO2 spritz yet to be absorbed. Impressively fat and deep wine with an expanding finish hinting at pineapple. Firm acidity gives it structure and grip. Shows a much more graceful integration of its wood element (it spent 18 months in old French barriques) than the 2007 version. I'd love to follow this over the next five years. 92+ pts Wine Advocate Issue #191 Oct 2010
The 2008 Section 94 is a finely crafted expression of single block Sauvignon Blanc that is barrel fermented in seasoned oak. Profoundly scented of pink grapefruit, mandarin slices, kumquat and fresh herb aromas, it later releases further notes of ginger, grass, white flower and green mango plus some lees and sulphide characters. Very crisp and intensely citrus, this is a beautifully balanced wine of great texture. The finish is long with lingering chalk and crushed stone notes. It’s delicious now, though this is a style built to age and it should cellar to 2016+.
