Marlborough Wine

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | Dog Point Vineyard is the largest certified organic wine estate in New Zealand.  This  Sauvignon Blanc is bright and delicious, with fresh lively flavors in a refreshing, easy sipping style. In the glass, key lime, granny smith apple, kiwi and white peach flavors grace the palate playfully with perfectly balanced acidity offering lift and a pleasant zip to the finish. Crisp and very pleasant, perfect for seafood and salads.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Rebecca Gibb MW writes:  Initially the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc needs a few moments to get itself together – much like we all do after waking up from our slumber. It wears a rather reductive overcoat, but under that flintiness you find concentrated, pure fruit flavors. It’s light in body but dense in concentration thanks to low yields, displaying both focus and punch. It's almost silvery in color and restrained thanks to hand-picking, leading to pure grapefruit and passion fruit flavors alongside a hint of nectarine. The finish is long, precise and sinewy.  Drinking 2024 - 2028.  - Vinous 93

James Suckling writes:  Clean and crisp with grapefruit, green melon and lemon character. Hints of stones. Medium body. Lovely acidity and a delicious finish. Some phenolic tension here. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. Screw cap.  - James Suckling 92

Julia Harding MW writes: Intensely aromatic and characteristically smoky, with marked reduction, a style that Dog Point have mastered so brilliantly. That smokiness is notable yet not excessive even if it is highly stylised. Behind the struck match is vibrant grapefruit and pear, immense depth and remarkable complexity for a young, unoaked white. Chewy texture and low pH make this a mouth-watering and persistent dry wine that is obviously Sauvignon Blanc but not just Sauvignon Blanc, and with better likely ageing capacity than most NZ SBs. Excellent purity and precision. I find this unspittable and feel sure it will be even better after another year in bottle.  Drinking 2024 to 2027.  - Jancis Robinson 17.5

MaryAnn Worobiec writes:  Lush and expressive, with plenty of concentration to the mix of mango, lemon curd and litsea oil flavors. Details of dried pineapple, candied ginger and crystalized orange zest add complexity and aromatics on the long finish. Drink now.  - Wine Spectator 94

Roger Jones, Freddy Bulmer, Cat Lomax write:  Matchstick reduction on the nose with layers of pink grapefruit pith and citrus oil. Mineral complexity with good intensity. Ambitious winemaking, perhaps, with time in the bottle, this wine will mellow and come together.  - Decanter Magazine

Winemaker Description 

Winemaker Description 

In appearance, it’s a pale yellow, straw color. On the nose there are ripe Sauvignon Blanc aromatics with notes of white stone fruit, passion fruit pulp and kaffir lime. The palate is lively with deep concentration and a salinic acidity.

This wine will pair well with aperitifs, seafood and poultry. Winemaker Description

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Wine Spectator 94 Points | One of the most impressive Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand is this single-vineyard planting. Unlike the vast majority of Kiwi Sauvignon Blancs, which hail from the Marlborough region at the northern tip of the South Island, Te Muna is located in Martinborough, at the southern tip of the North Island. The region’s cool climate and intense winds have been optimal for producing muscular Pinot Noirs, yet it turns out these conditions are ideal for Sauvignon Blanc as well, with the grapes’ thick, wind-blown skins adding intensity to the wines. Te Muna is divided into two dramatic terraces, with Pinot Noir growing in the decomposing soils of the upper terrace. But the greywacke stones and limestone on the lower terrace make a better match for Sauvignon Blanc. Since Craggy Range was founded by Terry and Mary Peabody in 1998, the quality of its distinctive wines has only become more impressive. A 1,000-year family trust shows how committed they are to the business. 72,000 cases imported.—MaryAnn Worobiec

MaryAnn Worobiec writes:  Fresh and precise, with lime, mango and passion fruit notes that are accented by crunchy sea salt, litsea oil, dried chamomile and fresh lemon zest on a mouthwatering, fleshy frame.  - :  Family-owned winery Craggy Range has an excellent reputation, and its entry-level Sauvignon Blanc shows a lovely purity and balance. The Martinborough region, at the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island, is a minor player size wise compared to the juggernaut that is Marlborough, but its wines are often more restrained in style. This elegant expression shows a lovely purity of gooseberry, blackcurrant leaf and lime fruit, with added weight from partial, short ageing in French oak.  - Decanter 90

Rebecca Gibb MW writes:  The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Te Muna Road probably won't be one for the history books. Modest in concentration and a little fleeting after what was a difficult season, it’s nonetheless attractive, clean and restrained. The 2023 is a less fragrant expression, with modest intensity of apple and pineapple, peach and citrus. Enjoy its dry, acid-driven tension in youth.  - Vinous

Winemaker Description

A serious, concentrated and expressive wine, Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc flaunts a powerful bouquet of fresh herbs, tropical fruits and bright citrus.

Ripe stone fruit flavors and a distinct minerality hold up well to rich, spicy foods. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews

Decanter 95 Points | Lovely purity of fruit with a core of plush, ripe fruits, citrus, apple and some light tropical fruit with savoury Oceanside nuances. Mineral and crunchy.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | A mouthwatering mix of lime, ruby grapefruit and fresh lemongrass flavors mark this version, with hints of thyme and sea salt popping on the long finish.

Winemaker Description 

Deliciously aromatic with scents of honeydew melon and orange blossom, delicately infused with herb garden botanicals. A bright, seasonal expression, with juicy lemon and steely cassis flavours and a generously textured palate garnished with a flourish of pastis and wildflowers. A wine with impressive structure and depth, this is Marlborough sauvignon blanc with the volume turned down a notch.

Harvested largely by machine during cool (often cold) night-time conditions, the fruit was picked earlier than normal at high sugar levels over a 3-week period, commencing 16 March. Transported directly to our winery in the Omaka Valley, fruit was lightly pressed to yield a modest volume of high-quality juice. The juice was cold-settled and racked prior to fermentation, which was primarily carried out in stainless steel tanks with cultured yeast. All individual vineyard batches were left on lees until late June, when the blend was assembled.

Winemaker Description

Classically Marlborough, Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc is balanced, crisp, and lively, perfectly capturing the aromatic characters of Marlborough’s two exceptional sub-regions.

Distinct and punchy with layered aromas of guava, gooseberry, and citrus peel, underpinned with delicate floral and herbaceous notes. A concentrated palate of tropical fruits and minerality with an elegant and energetic finish.

Expert Reviews

90 Points James Suckling | Aromatic aromas of fresh tropical fruit, stone fruit, pine cone and fresh mint. Medium-bodied with some savory, herbal undertones. Tropical, fun and easy.

90 Points Wine Spectator | Fresh and crisp, with green apple, lemon and white grapefruit flavors on a sleek, mouthwatering frame, backed by plenty of clipped herbs and lemongrass. Drink now.

Winemaker Description

Our Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc is ripe and intense with tropical notes of guava and passionfruit that lead to a lively finish. 

Winemaker Description

This wine delivers aromatics of nectarine, lime, florals and hints of toasted spice. The palate is concentrated and precise, with citrus, black currant, fresh herbs and grilled pineapple flavours. This wine possesses crisp. refreshing acidity and a touch of chalky minerality.

A great match with all seafood, particularly shellfish. The crisp flavours work well with fresh summer salads or soft goat cheese. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review

92  Points James Suckling | A solid sauvignon blanc with dried apple, lemon and flint. It’s medium- to full-bodied with excellent texture and a layered finish. Phenolics give this focus. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Winemaker Description 

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is almost always what people have in mind when this classic grape gets lauded or derided. For the LWLs of the world (Ladies Who Lunch), this is the beverage of choice. Those who love it, LOVE it and the haters hate it for the same reasons. Anthony ‘Ant’ Moore’s Sauvignon Blanc is like an olive branch to both sides. Originally an Aussie, he moved to Marlborough on the South Island in the early 2000s and was hooked. He uses a French approach (old oak barrels and extended lees aging) to balance that searing acidity typical of NZ Sauvignon Blanc and curb some of the typical ‘greenness’. The result is a veritable fruit basket of tropical proportions. Kiwi, pineapple, spearmint, and crunchy apple. Pair with any sunny moment or crunchy salad.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Vibrant, juicy and wonderfully intense, showing off fleshy notes of passion fruit, mango and citrus, with mouthwatering acidity and a touch of saline and lemongrass on the finish. Drink now.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points Best Buy Top Value Brands 2024 # 78 |  Leaning on the green veg side of the fence, this is a bombastic-yet-harmonious combo of freshly sliced green bell pepper, string bean, seashell, lime granita and passion fruit aromas. Theres lively acidity and some lovely texture to boot.

Wine Spectator 91 Points | Pear, lemon and yuzu flavors are precise and fresh in this white, with plenty of focus to its accents of lemon verbena and vetiver. Offers hints of toasted green tea and dried ginger on the crisp finish. Drink now. 35,000 cases made, 13,000 cases imported.

Winemaker Description 

Winemaker Description

The 2021 Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc is initially closed on the nose but unfurls with notes of subtle tropicality, honey and graphite. The palate is extraordinarily complete, with complex layers of peach, preserved citrus and toasted nuts. A fine line of acidity and an enticing saline minerality balance the intense core of fruit and provide a fresh, palate-cleansing finish. 

Expert Review

Erin Larkin writes:  Te Koko is arguably the wine that launched the concept of premium Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand in the 1980s—no mean feat. On the nose, this 2021 Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc leads with pink grapefruit, nashi pear, white pepper, layers of crushed shells and brine, with hints of vanilla pod and star anise. In the mouth, all of the above with additional cut fennel, suggestions of marzipan, graphite and white pepper. There is a gentle lees texture and brilliant length of flavor. Excellent wine. The only reason you could possibly not like this wine is if you don't like Sauvignon Blanc, and even then, I'd insist that you try it. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.  Drinking 2023 to 2036.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95+

Rebecca Gibb MW writes:  The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Te Koko is a firm, focused, barrel-fermented style, which is clear from the get-go with its nutty nose that follows through onto the palate. It's a youthful wine with all the flavors up front, and they're all still in a battle for supremacy, from citrus and nectarine to capsicum and almond croissants. The small crops of the season and the winemaking provided a rich texture and grip, making for a structured, powerful wine. There's no shortage of acidity either, coursing through with the pace of a river rapid. This still needs time for its componentry to knit, but there's plenty of quality markers here to suggest it will find its moment.  Drinking 2024 to 2030.  - Vinous 93

James Suckling writes:  Intense aromas of pears, green melon and honeysuckle follow through to a medium body with an attractive core of fruit and a fresh finish. Some phenolic tension and zesty lemon mouthfeel give this complexity. Drink now. Screw cap.  - James Suckling 93

MaryAnn Worobiec writes:  Aromatic and expressive, offering notes of jasmine, lime blossoms, green apple and passion fruit, with mouthwatering acidity and touches of Himalayan sea salt, preserved lemon and freshly grated ginger on the sleek finish.  Drink now.  - Wine Spectator 92