Winemaker Notes
Appealing aromas of ripe peach, tropical fruit and lemongrass on the nose carry through to the layered palate. Crisp, bright acidity lifts the fruit as hints of juicy citrus, passionfruit and kiwi come to the forefront, blending seamlessly with notes of fresh-cut green herbs. An attractive mineral backbone and suggestions of sea spray adds attractive dimension and texture.
Memorable and food-friendly, pair this Sauvignon Blanc with creamy cheeses, green salads, grilled chicken or fresh seafood dishes.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Crystal clear, with sliced lemons, stone and some flint undertones. Medium-bodied with fresh acidity and a crisp finish.
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Wine Spectator
Sleek and polished, with plenty of focus to the green papaya, salted lime, lemongrass and celery salt flavors, accented by dried mango, lemon basil and lemon zest. There's good length to the long, mouthwatering and elegant finish.
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.