Winemaker Notes
Not one bound by convention, The Marlborist Grande Sauvignon is a bold departure from the classic Marlborough style. Fermented entirely with naturally occurring yeast in a mixture of old French oak barrels and puncheons, it is an alternative style of Sauvignon Blanc with an alluring array of grilled peach, candied pineapple and brioche with hints of elderflower and almond. This is a moreish wine with a rich, creamy palate underpinned by a long, citrus finish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Grande Sauvignon is a richer, riper style of Sauvignon Blanc than the Alpine Rift wine tasted alongside. Here, the fruit is lower-yielding and handpicked and offers yellow peach, layers of saffron, orange oil and caper brine. The wine is matured in old puncheons and hogsheads for 15 months, and this has really opened the texture of the wine. It is full and round yet speared through the heart by the mouthwatering Marlborough acid line. It's silky, sleek and polished, with brilliant concentration of flavor. The tension through the middle palate and finish holds this wine in very good stead.
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James Suckling
Some pleasant grass, lemons and light grilled-asparagus character deliver a medium-bodied white of interest and taste. Fruity and yummy at the end with some tangy acidity.
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Vinous
Not your average Marlborough expression, the 2023 Grande Sauvignon offers an intriguing array of aromatics that's all blackcurrant leaf, sage, green capsicum and lemongrass. Wild fermented in French oak puncheons, this is lively, lithe and linear. While time on lees has brought texture to the palate, the firm line of acidity that runs through the 2023 is undeniable and leaves the mouth watering.
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.