New Zealand Wine

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

James Suckling writes:  Lots of passion fruit, guava and grapefruit on the nose. Bright, tropical and balanced, with medium body and a juicy, fruity finish. Sustainable. Drink now. Screw cap.  - James Suckling 90

Tamlyn Currin writes:  For a wine that is presumably made in vast quantities and in the most technical way possibly, this is surprisingly good. Full of bodacious tropical fruit. Mangoes and oranges with a little bit of grapefruit and sweet fennel. The balance of fruit and acidity is great, and it certainly tastes and feels more full-bodied than 12.5%. It's generous, friendly and appealing. I really can't fault it!   - Jancis Robinson 16

MaryAnn Worobiec writes:  A vibrant version, showing a mix of pineapple, mango and passion fruit flavors that is direct and mouthwatering, with touches of ginger and green tea on the finish. Drink now.  - Wine Spectator

Erin Larkin writes:  The 2023 Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc is a behemoth in the export market, and it delivers a pretty archetypal “Marlborough Sauvy” experience—crunchy, herbal, green, tropical and juicy. All good things in this context. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Roger Jones, Freddy Bulmer, Cat Lomax writes:  Delicate mineral notes with a mixture of passionfruit and meadow grass aromas. Citrus fruit, butterscotch, stone fruit, white peaches and nectarine.  - Decanter

Winemaker Description 

Winemaker Description 

A classic Sauvignon Blanc with all the hallmark characteristics of Marlborough. Produced in a fuller, riper, and softer style that develops well, this wine is clean, fresh and tropical, with fruit harvested from several vineyards situated throughout Marlborough.

Sweet citrus, red current and tropical fruits overlay fresh herbs and mineral elements.

On entry fresh tropical/ fruit salad fruits. The mid-palate adds juicy ripe citrus and blackcurrant with spice and lime joining and extending the finish. A wine with flesh and volume - a flavourful mouthful.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Christina Pickard of the Wine Enthusiast writes 89 Points | Classic (and unmistakable) Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc aromas of passion fruit, lime, honeysuckle, dried green herbs and bell pepper lead. The palate is pithy and punchy with a fruity zest to the finish.

Rebecca Gibb Writes:  The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough makes me think of a refreshing cocktail, with its gooseberry and elderflower notes meeting mint and passionfruit in this crisp, dry style. It's an excellent, juicy thirst quencher for slugging with friends, chilled on a warm summer's day. It's not going to change your life or give you any intellectual pleasure, but that's not its purpose.  - Vinous

Roger Jones, Freddy Bulmer, Cat Lomax write:  Herbal, white fruit and citrus nose. Sweet passionfruit, green citrus, passionfruit, green apple, guava and yoghurt notes.

Winemaker Description 

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc put New Zealand on the map with its captivating flavor. Their signature style is famous for its vibrant nose, mouthwatering palate and long finish. Stone fruit and citrus stand out, while minerality (think rain on river stones) provides balance

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

James Suckling 92 Points | Consistently delicious with sliced-apple, gooseberry and lime character. Some grass too. Medium body, creamy texture and a fresh finish. Fortieth vintage of this wine.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Christina Pickard of WIne Enthusiast writes 93 Points | Dried herbs and lemongrass, with passionfruit sorbet, open this lovely, balanced Sauvignon. It's textural, long and persistent, with a salted pink grapefruit finish.  

Winemaker Description

The lively nose shows tropical and citrus fruits with subtle herbaceous characters. Its crisp fresh palate offers classic Marlborough acidity, structure and length.

Winemaker Description 

The Tokoeka Sauvignon Blanc has an intense aroma of passionfruit and gooseberry. An almost atypical New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc leaning away from traditional grapefruit flavor and featuring clean citrus and tropical fruit with hints of minerality.

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.

Expert Reviews -Vintage 2021

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

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 

Frenzy is produced from a carefully made blend of the best fruit from selected vineyards, which are all ideally suited to the Sauvignon Blanc varietal. Winemaking is completed at cool temperatures to ensure purity of fruit and the essence of the region’s terroir are expressed in the most genuine style.

This is an elegant wine with intense tropical and stone fruit aromatics with delicate citrus and floral notes, full flavored and textured. The wine has fine mouthwatering mineral acidity on the finish that refreshes the palate, leaving you longing for more. 

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | Here’s a bright and lively New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that stands out from the crowd in flavorful fashion. An enticing mélange of citrus, peach and passion fruit jumps from the glass with energetic intensity and mouthwatering vibrancy. Perfectly balanced and thirst quenching, with cleansing acidity on the highly refreshing finish that makes this a delicious match to easy food pairings. Especially good with spicy cuisine and seafood dishes.

Expert Reviews 

93 Points Decanter  | Quince and melon with restrained citrus notes and flinty tones. Lovely intensity with lifting oak and a sprinkle of stone fruit. Lovely intensity on the palate. The fruit shows a nice concentration with a supple texture. Very classic in style with great typicity. Juicy acidity with a long finish.

Winemaker Description 

This Sauvignon Blanc is a vibrant, crisp wine that comes from vineyards in the South Island of New Zealand, where the cool growing season allows our grapes to mature slowly and gain character and complexity.

Flavors of Meyer lemon, white nectarine and key lime integrate with subtle hints of grapefruit, gooseberry and citrus, culminating into a long, balanced finish. Pair oysters on the half shell, creamy lobster risotto or a picnic in the park. 

Winemaker Description

Brancott Sauvignon Blanc is predominantly a pale straw color with greens. This vibrant wine is a pale straw colour with green highlights. The zesty aromas jump from the glass, with highlights of pink grapefruit, melon and gooseberry.

On the palate, flavors of grapefruit, honeydew melon, and passionfruit contribute to the ripe fruit sweetness combined with a tight, fresh acidity. This is a beautifully balanced wine.

Winemaker Notes

Made from Biodynamically grown certified organic grapes. Pale straw color with a green tinge. On the nose, cantaloupe, tropical fruits, passionfruit, key lime pie, and honeysuckle flowers. Granny Smith apple, gooseberry, pie crust and hazelnuts on the palate. Rich with raw acidity and evolving length. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2024 

The Wine Advocate (91 Points) Erin Larkin writes: The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is juicy, uncomplicated and tropical, with lashings of fresh fruit flavors underpinned by crunchy acidity. Everything is in place here. This is quite delicious.

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer: There are times when a wine, at first sip, captivates me with charm and beauty. The 2024 Huia Sauvignon Blanc is one such wine. A delicate golden shimmer in the glass with scintillating aromas of pink grapefruit, lime blossom, crystallized ginger and honey dew melon. Pure and lively in the mouth with harmonious flavors that dance across the palate with a ballarina-like weightlessness. A refreshing kiss of acidity adds energetic lift and balance to the invigorating finish, and makes it an absolute pleasure to pair with meals. Perfect with seafood, sushi, poultry, salads and spicy stir fry and great for casual sipping as well. Delicious!

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 - Vintage 2023

Christina Pickard of the Wine Enthusiast writes 87 Points | A classic combo of dried green herb, bell pepper, passion fruit and lime aromas marches to a dry, fruity and crisp palate that's a little shrill but quenches thirst nonetheless.

The Wine Spectator 88 Points | Smooth and succulent, with peach, lime and lemon zest notes that are mouthwatering. Finishes on a note of Key lime pie. Drink now. 8,000 cases made, 3,000 cases imported.

The Wine Advocate 90 Points |  The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc offers us an uncomplicated display of tropical fruits, pert acidity and gently chalky phenolics through the finish. Everything is in place here. It would be hard to imagine a more "Marlborough-tasting" Sauvignon Blanc. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under 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.

Winemaker Description 

Winemaker Description 

Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc is distinctively New Zealand – clean, fresh and easy drinking. Lovely tropical fruit flavors make it a great wine with chicken and seafood dishes or just to drink on its own.

Winemaker Description 

Pale straw with a hint of green and gold. Complex and elegant Sauvignon Blanc bouquet, with citrus blossom and wild flowers, surrounded by crushed ripe herbs and pineapple. Dense fruit core of juicy melon and peach complemented by hints of ripe herbs and florals. Beautifully rounded with layer upon layer of texture, this wine has a long, complex finish with plenty of minerality, citrus, ripe stone fruit and an umami quality.

A good match for oysters, seafood, spaghetti alle vongole and chicken. 

Winemaker Description 

With bright, pure flavors and a fun-loving personality, every glass of our dazzling Sauvignon Blanc echoes the spectacular natural beauty of New Zealands South Island. Zesty citrus aromas lead to layers of passionfruit, grapefruit and gooseberry flavors, followed by a clean, refreshing finish. Its exquisite on its own or paired with lighter fare.

Winemaker Description

This is a delicious Pinot Noir, with fleshy black plum, layers of cherry and sweet berries that play on the palate and dance with hints of violet and savory notes. Drink now or cellar for up to 10 years. Grown with love, made with care.

Expert Rating

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Presents pretty clove, nutmeg and cardamom details that are a lovely complement to the sleek maraschino cherry, raspberry and cranberry flavors at the core. A touch of malty Assam tea lingers on the finish, adding a firm note. Drink now through 2035. (2021).

Winemaker Description 

Rain Sauvignon Blanc is a totally refreshing Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough. Meticulous fruit selection and cold fermentation contribute an abundant spectrum of tropical and herbal aromas.

Passionfruit and gooseberry fragrances abound the nose. Extended lees contact adds depth, texture and balance to the palate. The finish is long and invigorating. 

Winemaker Description

Pure and vibrant with layers of passionfruit, tropical fruit and ripe citrus. Juicy fruit flavors and soft acidity combine to deliver a mouth-watering finish. Capturing all the trademark sub-regional flavors of Marlborough, this Sauvignon Blanc is sure to impress.

Expert Ratings

Wine Spectator | Generous flavors of apple, passion fruit and pineapple show hints of fresh grated ginger and dried lemon thyme, along with an accent of chive flower on the fresh, crisp finish. Drink now. 25,000 cases imported.

Winemaker Description 

A classic Felton Road nose of dark blossoms: rose and violet with a compote of dark fruits. The mid-palate is just screaming Felton Road. Black cherries and cream on the nose introduced cherry crumble on the palate with baked spices. Very harmonious for a wine so young, but a brooding undertow reveals the intrinsic power of the wine. Four Bannockburn vineyards seamlessly integrating to provide many layers and textures.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

James Suckling 93 Points | Very attractive hibiscus with sliced strawberries and orange peel aromas that follow through to a medium body with very fine tannins and a fresh and clean wine. Tangy and succulent fruit. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. Screw cap. (2021). 

Jancis Robinson 16.5/20 Points |  Earthy and interesting on the nose. Already open and sweet but with good structure. Great for current drinking, with real interest and freshness. At the moment I prefer this to Block 3. (2021). 

Vinous 91 Points |  The 2021 Pinot Noir Bannockburn offers fine tension and sinew. I rather like it for being understated and having a corset of acidity and tannic tension around it. Sour red cherry, damson, wild herbs, a twist of nutmeg and it's all rather pleasing. Long, scented and excellent value with praiseworthy tannin quality. (2021). 

Decanter 92 Points | A hint of smokiness and toast appears first, still with the echo of slight reduction. The fine web of tannins on the palate holds oak as well as surprisingly dark fruit. Very juicy, fruity and bold, this is Felton Road's estate Pinot Noir, with just 25% new oak. Drinking 2022 - 2032  (2021). 

Winemaker Description 

Crisp and refreshing, expect pure tropical fruit and citrus flavors with nuances of freshly cut herbs from this wonderfully balanced, lighter-in-alcohol Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Classic Sauvignon Blanc fruit was batch-harvested at perfect ripeness, with balanced tropical fruit, citrus, and herbal flavours. Fermented cool in stainless steel tanks to retain purity of fruit flavour and freshness, the wine then spent 3 months on lees to build texture. After blending, some of the alcohol was gently removed from the wine using spinning cone technology to give a full- flavoured 6% alc./ vol. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that’s deliciously fresh, with 50% lower alcohol and 45% less calories compared to 12.5% alc./vol. wine.

Producer Description 

Bright ruby in color with a medium red hue. Aromas of red berry fruits, vanilla and warm oak abound on the bouquet. The palate is sweetly-fruited, with strawberry, ripe red cherry and plum on an elegant, medium weight body. The tannins are supple and integrated, and the red fruit and spicy oak flavors persist on the lovely finish.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | Here is a perfect example of just how good Chardonnay can be! Refreshing flavors of white peach, lively citrus, stone fruit and pear drop cascade across the palate with fleshy richness and energetic balance. There is plenty of zip and clean acidity on the long, delicious and very happy finish. Great with a wide variety of foods, but also just by itself.

Expert Review

Sam Kim of Wine Orbit 95 Points |  Gorgeously composed and expressed, the wine shows golden peach, lemon peel, nougat and hazelnut aromas with a hint of brioche complexity. The concentrated palate delivers terrific weight and persistency, wonderfully complemented by creamy texture and beautifully pitched acidity.

Winemaker Description

Each parcel of fruit was fermented separately at a cool temperature, settled over night, and racked clean. Approximately 8% of the must was barrel fermented in French oak. Given the cool season, specific yeasts were selected to accentuate the melon and passionfruit characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc. 

Expert Review

90 Points  James Suckling | Perfumed aromas of tarragon, passion fruit, mango and grated nutmeg. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and a saline mineral character. Soft finish. Drink now. Screw cap. 

Winemaker Description 

An intentionally restrained mineral core is layered with ripe citrus, flashes of tropical fruit and crushed thyme. The palate is vibrant with white nectarine, passionfruit coulis, and wraps up classically crisp and refreshing in true Marlborough style. 

Winemaker Description 

Lively lime and lemon aromas and a flinty, mineral edginess with hints of fig and white peach. The weighty mid-palate also shows peachy ripeness along with crisp acid minerality that gives the wine a refreshing cleansing quality.

This wine is delightful as an aperitif, and even better to drink with fish and shellfish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

James Suckling writes 92 Points | A delicious chardonnay with a sour lemon, cooked apple and grapefruit undertone. Medium body. Tangy and fruity. Drink now. Screw cap. 

Erin Larkin of the Wine Advocate writes 90 Points | The 2023 Village Chardonnay is silky and sleek in the mouth, with lemon flesh, curd, almond meal and brine. The wine has loads of flavor but is restrained and composed; it's a really great entrée to the world of Kumeu River. Eighty percent of the fruit is from the Hawke's Bay vineyard. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.  Drinking 2023 to 2029. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is green and tropical, loaded with passion fruit and honeydew melon; the palate is concentrated and juicy, and this will no doubt deeply please the cohort of Marlborough-savvy drinkers who lust after this quenching profile. Well played. 13.5% alcohol, stale under screw cap. Anticipated Maturity: 2024-2026

Winemaker Description 

This wine shows an array of fruit characters, ranging from citrus through to tropical notes. This is complemented by some secondary characters from the natural yeast ferments and some barrel aging. The palate has an elegant structure with a creamy, textural mid-palate and a long finish. 

Winemaker Description 

Hunky Dory Sauvignon Blanc is succulent, offering tropical fruit notes packed with fresh gooseberry and lime flavors. This wine has a full-flavored lingering finish and is designed to meet expectations of a true Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. 

Winemaker Description

Pale ruby red. Aromas of dark red cherry, vanilla spice. Tastes of red and dark cherry.

Pair with roasted aubergine and Morroccan spice. 70% dark chocolate. Olive tapenade and warm pita bread.

Hand harvested at optimum ripeness. De-stemmed and crushed into tank. Aged for 11 months in large French oak.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

James Suckling 93 Points | Aromas of fresh red cherries and some rose-like florals, in an upbeat, fruit-driven style. A very concentrated and ripe array of brambly raspberries and red cherries with smooth tannins, delivering a web of fresh-fruit flavor. Succulent and spicy, oak-tinged finish.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | Normally a bit darker in fruit tone than the blended bottling, the 2018 Cornish Point Pinot Noir features black cherries and a hint of licorice, plus some vaguely floral notions. It's medium to full-bodied, with supple tannins and just a bit of chocolate on the finish, reflecting the warmth of the vintage. 

The Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | This Pinot, from a low lying vineyard almost completely surrounded by water, is simultaneously the most reductive, floral and fruity of this renowned biodynamic producer's lineup. The reduction gives a salty edge but it doesn't overpower the plump cherry and plum fruit or rose petal aromas. The palate is nicely textured with a solid line of acidity that buoys the plush fruit and flows to a long cocktail bitters finish. While this lacks the vibrancy and elegance of some of FR's other single-site wines, it's nevertheless an appealing drop.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

The Wine Advocate 94 Points | The 2021 Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc is aromatically a little sweaty, with white flowers and enoki mushroom, pear and even sweet pea. This is composed and impressive and yet still so young. Having had the benefit of tasting the lineup, I'd say that while I can both appreciate and even encourage drinking these wines in their youth, the complexity and layering that evolves over time is magnificent, and you are missing this element in youth. The trade off of fresh fruit in the short term is not enough to warrant the sacrifice of age-derived complexity.

James Suckling 93 Points | A perfumed nose of green apples, passion fruit, grated nutmeg and beeswax. Medium-bodied. Bright and driving. Lemony acidity with a subtle smokiness. There is lovely weight and texture here with a solid core of fresh fruit and a lingering finish. A blend of sauvignon blanc, sauvignon gris and semillon. Sustainable. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Vinous 92 Points | White Bordeaux lovers eat your heart out, the 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Cape Crest is a white Sauvignon-Semillon blend offering palate richness and texture. There's plenty of expressive aromatics from blackcurrant and herbs to nectarine and tropical fruit, along with well-integrated oak-derived vanilla. A delightful, concentrated, attractive style that provides a refreshing alternative to classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc styles.

Winemaker Description 

On the nose the wine shows spice, violets, vanilla and dark cherry. The palate is rich and full with red and dark cherry alongside hints of smoke, and spice.

Made from a blend of four Marlborough vineyards Quarters, Andahlane, Kennedys Road and including the Huia home block, this wine boasts a beguiling richness with notes of alpine strawberries, dark cherry, violets, cranberries, cinnamon, clove, hay and roasted hazelnuts on the nose with juicy acidity beautifully balanced with the generous notes of toasted oak, cherry pie, strawberries, wild thyme, marjoram, cacao and Chinese 5 spice on the palate. 

Best decanted an hour prior to enjoying. 

Winemaker Description 

If you’re after Sauvignon Blanc with all the incredible crisp, tropical Marlborough flavours and less of the calories, you’ve come to the right place. We've made this Sauvy so you can enjoy it with 25% less alcohol and calories - now that's a winning combination! 9% alcohol per volume.