Mike, at bottling I ran out of bottles and corks before I ran out of wine (drat!!
). So, I poured the rest (about half a bottle) in a pitcher, covered it with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator to cool. I drank a little each day for three days to see how it changed as it oxiginated (is that a word?). Anyway . . . On the nose it had pronounced notes of what I have come to identify as the benchmark for New Zealand Sauv Blanc, grapefruit and fresh mown grass. This never changed. On the pallet, it began at bottling with a touch of bitterness that worried me. But after chilling for several hours that disappeared completely and what was left was fruity, crisp, with a perfect level of acid. I'm imagining that with three more months in the bottle, that initial bitter taste that I got will be gone.
I read somewhere that this kit was supposed to be comparable to the Oyster Bay, 2010. So, I had bought a couple of bottles to see what I might expect. Well, I had already finished those off, so couldn't do a side-by-side tasting, but in a couple of months I may buy another bottle and do exactly that. Frankly, from what I remember, they will be pretty darn close. Too bad RJS has taken the Zew Zealand Sauv Blanc our of their line-up. But I think I will try it in the 16 liter Cru Select version.