The 2009 John Martin Sauvignon Blanc shows too much herbaceous, pyrozine character on the nose with touches of asparagus and, to be honest, the palate is too vegetal and mean on the finish. Drink now. I must confess that I was a little disappointed with the selection from this Paarl estate. Whilst the whites are satisfactory, especially their keenly priced Chenin Blanc, the reds exhibited excessive and poorly handled oak that denied the wines of freshness and personality.Importer: Frank Wildman & Sons, New York, NY; tel. (212) 230-0906

This compelling wooded Sauvignon Blanc is spicy and complex but still very fresh, striking a delicious balance between curvy and classic. Tropical fruit and vanilla meld together with a crisp minerality that lends itself to creative food pairing and refreshing summer sips.——S.K.(7/1/2007)—— 90