Last September on my trip to the Australia and New Zealand I took a ferry ride over to Waiheke Island for a tasting and touring day organized by the Waiheke Island Wine Growers Association. It was a fun ride on the ferry, crossing from Auckland's harbour over to the island that didn't take much time. There I was met by a wonderful driver from Ananda Tours took things from there.
One of the first stops was at Kennedy Point Winery and maybe because it was the cool morning, the clean air or just the really peaceful feeling of the island, I found the wines of Kennedy Point to be just delightful. One wine stood out. The Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. That day I was poured the 2012 and quickly learned that the 2011 was in the USA, so Wine-Searcher.com on my iPhone, it wasn't long before a six pack was ordered and on its way to me.
Last night marked the first time I opened one of the 2011's. White wines are something I enjoy, sometimes as much as reds, but often given the food I eat, the whites tend to be more of an afterthought. Well, the 2011 Kennedy Point is no afterthought. It's a stunning example of winemaking, where the fruit doesn't get lost, and the minerals and aromas come through sip after sip. In thinking about the wine and the visit I recalled the freshness of the salt air from the island. Well, the grapes may not come from the island, but the winery sure is, and this is one wine I can seriously say is delightful food wine. It was a perfect match for the squash pasta over a medley of asparagus, mushrooms, peppers, garlic and onions as the light mineral notes, the long finish and the rich grassy flavor just all blended so well together.
