August 5, 2018 - So many New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, particularly in the $18-25 price range, just hit you in the face with their aggressive aromas and flavours -- even when very good, they can be too much of a good thing. Not so this fine effort from Stoneleigh ($22 in Ontario), which is very good but by no means too much. The aromas feature characteristic Sauvignon Blanc notes, heavy on the passion fruit but also guava, gooseberry, asparagus, grass, and white pepper -- and these are restrained, not aggressive, more seductive than obvious. There's greater exertion on the palate, but the flavours are nicely in harmony, without the sharpness that, again, is often found in its peers, while what really sets this apart is the strong, but still harmonious, minerality that adds a further element to the usual, along with green apple and lemon. There isn't great depth or length, but this is nonetheless something better than typical, overdone Sauvignon Blanc.
May 14, 2018 - Weekly tasting group RWP #286: Six pairs fully blind for my guests (@ My place): In the bouquet some petrol, minerals, grasses and a bit rustic. On the palate a firm amount of fresh acidity, grasses, herbs and some grapefruit.
March 29, 2017 - Double-A's tasting note is spot-on: at heart, this must be a restrained and elegant Sauvignon Blanc, but aromatically the nose is dominated by volatile sulphur compounds - sweaty mercaptans and Jalapeño pepper. The finish is only slightly less off-putting. Not as bad as the horrid 2014 Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc Letter Series tasted last year, but that is about as positive as I can be.
August 29, 2016 - Very fruity, cream, grape fruit.
July 28, 2016 - Exotic passion fruit and fresh grassiness on the nose, good acidity that expanded and lengthened palate, long finish, great value but could use more complexity
May 11, 2016 - Medium-high aromatics featuring gooseberry, cat pee, and asparagus notes. It's medium-bodied with balanced, juicy acids. Ripe fruited flavours, including citrus and gooseberry notes. Long finishing. Score: 89+ pts
March 29, 2016 - Un-attractive, sweaty mercaptans and green pepper nose. This wine has been off for the last few vintages...odd that the regular bottling of Stoneleigh remains clean and pleasant, where the Latitude has been suffering.
(See my long-winded tirade on the Dog Point 2015)
February 25, 2016 - Cat's pee
Fairly crisp green acidity
September 23, 2015 - Pale yellow color; savory, smoky, white grapefruit, light passion fruit nose; tasty, tart white grapefruit, mineral, smoke palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish 90+ points