Marist Suvignon Blanc

Driving through the southern highlands, B was telling me about the Marist monastery thereabouts, which he remembered from visits many years ago. Seeing a banner hung at the bottom of their driveway proclaiming a cellar door, we ventured in. The monastery is placed in an idyllic setting, with cattle snoozing under the trees, and butterflies filling the air. We hoped that the vines growing here were imbued with something of the spirit of the place.

Their sauvignon blanc is an excellent "drink now" wine. It is light and fruity, and goes down a treat. The nose has citric grapefruit and melon aromas, which fill the glass. The palate does not have that sharp flintiness which you find in Western Australian Sauvignons, but it does have strong tingly acidity and flavours of ripe pear and apricot. It is quite a fruity wine, with a bit of lingering heat.

Not the best S.B. you can buy, but it's not bad, and it's made by monks, so you can't lose.

Food: Salt and pepper squid.

Price: $15 a bottle at the cellar door - which is well worth a visit.