Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
The majority of the vines that yield this wine are planted on infertile, poorly draining, and nutrient-deficient gravel beds on the northern side of the Wairau Valley in proximity to the Wairau River; a smaller percentage of the fruit hails from the Seaview Vineyard in the Awatere Valley, close to the Pacific Ocean. The result is a concentrated perfume and flavor profile. Aromas of freshly cut grass, grapefruit, and sweet basil are irresistible. Crisp, clean notes of tangerine blossom, star fruit, and honeyed yellow apple are amplified by keen acidity. Spearmint integrates with undeni- able minerality, and the long finish enhances the sensation of one of the freshest Sauvignon Blancs we've tasted.
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Wine Spectator
Bright and expressive, with hints of lemon mint and lemon thyme to complement the core of passion fruit and lemon flavors on a sleek and juicy frame. Drink now. 65,000 cases made, 40,000 cases imported.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
An icon and leading region of New Zealand's distinctive style of Sauvignon blanc, Marlborough has a unique terroir, making it ideal for high quality grape production (of many varieties). Despite some common generalizations, which could be fairly justified given that Marlborough is responsible for 90% of New Zealand's Sauvignon blanc production, the wines from this region are actually anything but homogenous. At the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, the vineyards of Marlborough benefit from well-draining, stony soils, a dry, sunny climate and wide temperature fluctuations between day and night, a phenomenon that supports a perfect balance between berry ripeness and acidity.
The region’s king variety, Sauvignon blanc, is beloved for its pungent, aromatic character with notes of exotic tropical fruit, freshly cut grass and green bell pepper along with a refreshing streak of stony minerality. These wines are made in a wide range of styles, and winemakers take advantage of various clones, vineyard sites, fermentation styles, lees-stirring and aging regimens to differentiate their bottlings, one from one another.
Also produced successfully here are fruit-forward Pinot noirs (especially where soils are clay-rich), elegant Riesling, Pinot gris and Gewürztraminer.