New Zealand Wine

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

The Wine Enthusiast by Christina Pickard | Best Buy | 89 Points | Like the first bite of a juicy, fuzz-covered peach on a mid-summer's day, the grass and wild herbs between your bare toes, a bowl of passionfruit and sorbet beside you, this tangy, ultra fresh, slightly slippery little number is a likable drop in the warmer months particularly.

James Suckling 89 Points | This intensely tropical white has notes of passion fruit, lime curd and mangoes. It’s medium-bodied, fruity and straightforward with fresh acidity. -

The Wine Advocate by Erin Larkin writes 89 Points | If this isn't one of the largest-volume, highest-selling Sauvignon Blanc blends on the planet, I will be very surprised. The 2024 Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc smells consistently like it always does: cassis and green apple, passion fruit, white pineapple and white pepper, and it has briny acidity. It's a neat wine, with everything ordered and in place. Impressive. 

The Wine Spectator by MaryAnn Worobiec 88 Points | There’s plenty of energy behind this white’s juicy mix of peach, citrus and apple flavors, with notes of lemon verbena and orange blossoms. Shows a touch of ginger on the finish. Drink now. 1,505,000 cases made, 100,000 cases imported. 

Vinous by Rebecca Gibb, MW 87 Points | Tangy passionfruit, blackcurrant and green pepper come together in this bright, young 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Private Bin. It' tangy, citrussy and punchy and does everything you want from a Marlborough Sauvignon at this price. 

Winemaker Description 

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

James Suckling 90 Points | A crunchy and easy sauvignon blanc that delivers green-melon and apple aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied, lightly sweet and crisp at the end. Nicely done.

Winemaker Description 

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc is fresh and juicy with ripe, tropical flavors of passion fruit, melon, and stone fruit. Each sip of wine reveals classic Marlborough Bauvignon Blanc aromas of lifted citrus, tropical fruit, and crushed herbs, along with vibrant acidity and plenty of weight and length on the palate.

Pair with fresh oysters, asparagus, lobster, or a light salad.

Memo Summary Notes

The 2024 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc remains one of the most recognizable "benchmark" wines of New Zealand. For the 2024 vintage, it continues to deliver the intense, high-energy profile that made it a global household name.

Winemaker Description

This wine starts in Marlborough vineyards, in the region famous for introducing elegant, cool climate New Zealand wines to the world. Marlborough’s warm days and cool nights create an extended growing season allowing the grapes to develop strong, intense varietal characteristics while maintaining a balanced, crisp natural acidity. The result is a distinct white wine that is always crisp, elegant, and refreshing.

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc White Wine is stunningly aromatic with tropical fruits and bright citrus notes, and a refreshingly zesty finish. It pairs perfectly with lighter meals, a variety of fresh Asian flavors, and seafood. Enjoy within a year or two of the vintage. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

James Suckling 90 Points | Aromas of sliced lime, guava, star fruit, savory herbs and flowers. Medium-bodied, fresh and crisp with a juicy, mouthwatering nature. Flavorful and bright. Drink now. Screw cap.

The Wine Spectator 85 Points | Lime sherbet, lemongrass and lemon balm notes are fresh and vivid, with mouthwatering acidity and more herbal elements on the finish. Drink now. 77,200 cases imported. 

Please allow 3-5 business days for this wine to ship.

Expert Review - Vintage 2025

Wineanorak - 93 Points | Highly aromatic, with elderflower, citrus, and passionfruit. Crisp, textural, and elegant green notes, calling it "benchmark Marlborough Sauvignon.

Winemaker Description 

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc put New Zealand on the map with its captivating flavor. The 2025 vintage is open and expressive on the nose, with notes of peach, elderflower, makrut lime and freshly squeezed lemon. On the palate, bright lemon notes are layered over subtle white nectarine and refreshing sea salt and dune grass aromas reminiscent of a cool sea breeze at the end of a warm day. There’s a sense of poise, with the refined mid palate balanced by a steel-cut citrus acidity and an elegant finish. 

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2025 is a natural match for almost any seafood. Some of our favorites at the winery include tempura oysters, locally-caught sashimi, and steamed mussels with garlic, citrus and parsley. It’s also a great match for green salads and goats’ cheese. A hint from us: if it goes with lemon, it goes with Sauvignon Blanc.

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 2024

Erin Larkin of The Wine Advocate writes 89 Points | The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is a bright and typical Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc: it has elderflower and passion fruit, nashi pear and kiwi fruit, with pineapple husk and juicy acidity. It's not complex, but who is counting? This is delicious—2024 showing its strength. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Expert Review - Vintage 2025

Winemaker Description

Whitehaven wine is made with 100% Marlborough sourced grapes for a distinctively bright & balanced style that has earned us consistently high scores.

Brighten the moment with our flagship Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc. This electrifying expression captures the lush and luminous essence of New Zealand’s most iconic wine region, Marlborough. Showcasing vivacious citrus notes, lemongrass, and green apple, accented by a crisp, herbaceous edge, the bright character of this wine is complemented by its balanced structure and long, clean finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

The Wine Advocate 91 Points | The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc leads with the typically leafy, green-gauge nose of coriander, crushed sea shells, green apple and brine. In the mouth, the wine is intensely tropical but tempered by a maritime freshness and levity through the finish. It's a breath of fresh air, this wine. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

93 Points James Suckling: Attractive sauvignon blanc with flint, green-apple and lime aromas and flavors. Medium body with sliced melon and slate. Focused and pretty.

90 Points Vinous:  If you’re looking for a bit of all the best bits of Marlborough, Astrolabe's 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough ticks the boxes in a harmonious, let-it-be way. It offers roundness and texture with fresh, balanced acidity and bright notes of pineapple, mint, passion fruit and lemon. This is really well put together. It's clear winemaker Simon Waghorn knows what he's doing.

Winemaker Description

Pale straw color with green highlights. Powerful gooseberry, white currant, red capsicum, passionfruit and lime peel aromas. Medium-bodied, with strong flavors of makrut lime, passionfruit, lemongrass and a refreshingly smooth, dry and persistent finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | This whites vibrant, aromatic mix of lemon blossoms, ripe peach, kumquat and lime sherbet shows focus and intensity on a sleek and smooth body. Touches of candied ginger and green tea linger on the fresh finish. Drink now. 10,000 cases imported.

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc was hand delivered to me in Fremantle by winemaker Richelle Tyney from Greywacke, all the way from Marlborough, New Zealand—roughly 5,200 kilometers between us. The wine leads with passion fruit and white pineapple, green apple, beeswax and brine. The wine is salty, fine and sedate—the characters are all in balance with each other. I love this wine from this small producer. It is intense and concentrated, shaped by savory phenolics and loaded with crunchy New Zealand acidity. This speaks of the place in a clear, unfettered voice, and it's brilliant for that. 13.5% alcohol.

Vinous 91 Points | The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is open and richly fruited with mid-palate richness. It offers tropical flavors and elderflower notes with flecks of green pepper and jalapeño. Despite the ripeness of fruit, there's still plenty of acidity and an assured grip on the 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.

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.

Winemaker  Notes:

Aromas of passion fruit, lime, lemon and blackcurrants. Flavors of ripe lemon and tropical fruits on the palate. Bright refreshing textural acidity providing length and persistence with an elegant finish.

Memo Summary Notes 

The 2025 Tapi Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is a highly-regarded, certified organic wine from the Wairau Valley in New Zealand. It is known for its purity and vibrant tropical profile, representing a "serene" 2025 vintage that benefited from excellent growing conditions.

Pair with:

• Seafood: Grilled prawns, oysters, or white fish with lemon.

• Salads: Fresh garden salads with citrus vinaigrette or asparagus dishes.

• Cheeses: Goats' cheese or Feta

Quick Expert Summaries - Vintage 2025 

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit 93 Points (5 Stars) Praised for "excellent fruit intensity" backed by fleshy texture and beautifully pitched acidity. Aromas of feijoa, kiwifruit, crunchy apple, and lemon zest.

The Real Review 92.8 Points Ranked highly among the new 2025 releases for its vibrancy and purity.

Winemaker Description

The 2025 Mount Riley Sauvignon Blanc is a blend from multiple vineyard sites throughout Marlborough and was fermented in stainless steel. Complex with overt aromas of passion fruit, pink grapefruit, citrus and greener components of crushed herb, capsicum and gooseberries. A fresh, vibrant wine with a crisp, lingering finish.

Winemaker Description

A classically Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, balanced, crisp and lively. Distinct and punchy with layered aromas of guava, gooseberry and citrus peel, underpinned with delicate floral and herbaceous notes. A crisp and lively palate of tropical fruits, zesty lime citrus and minerality with an elegant and energetic finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

The Wine. Enthusiast 86 Points by Christina Pickard | There's a big dollop of blackcurrant atop peach and passionfruit on this youthful Marlborough Savvy B. Straightforward yet refreshing, with fruity appeal. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2025

James Suckling 91 Points | Spicy and a little green on the nose, offering white berries, currant leaves, white roses and hints of crushed stones. Very fresh and juicy on the palate, with a medium body, crunchy acidity and a tense and minerally finish.

The Wine Spectator 90 Points | An elegant style, with lime sorbet, quince, Fuji apple and lemon zest, plus a touch of lemon basil, all on a sleek and juicy frame that lingers.

Winemaker Description 

Winemaker Description

Showing vivacity, concentration and brightness, the Estate wines are crafted from both our glacial stones and windblown clay terroirs. Combining the best nuances of Marlborough and our Sancerre heritage, this organic Sauvignon Blanc is our flagship wine from the Clos Henri estate in Blenheim. 

Clos Henri Estate Sauvignon Blanc (formerly known as Petit Clos Sauvignon Blanc) offers notes of peach and nectarine are paired with elderflower and soft gunflint minerality. Textural, with zingy acidity and a flinty, mineral nuance this wine is both fresh and concentrated.

Enjoy on its own as an aperitif or with fresh shellfish as well as with ceviche, Thai green curry, tomato and goat’s cheese tart. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2024 

James Sucklings 94 Points | Very Sancerre-like with subtle lemon rind, light white pepper and green melon. The palate is refined and polished with hints of orange blossoms at the end. Pretty acidity. Sophisticated sauvignon. 

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is ripe and concentrated on the nose, with persimmon and tangelo, lemon rind and green apple. In the mouth, the wine is possessed of an array of flavors, from salted nuts, almond meal, vanilla pod and caper brine right through to a cavalcade of citrus fruits and a suggestion of coriander/cilantro. This is eminently sophisticated, yet it delivers the Marlborough intensity and focus of acidity and fruit. It's excellent. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

The Tasting Panel 93 Points | This wine glistens with bright acidity accented by pink grapefruit and just-sliced pineapple. Candied green apple punctuates the midpalate with appealing salinity and crispness.

The Wine Spectator 90 Points | A distinctive white, with white pepper and lemongrass notes, plus a whiff of lemon mint that adds aromatic interest to the core of lemon-lime and apple on a smooth and juicy frame. Demonstrates elegance on the finish. Drink now. 35,000 cases imported.

Vinous 90 Points | This is not your average 2023 Sauvignon Blanc. It's aromatically intriguing, with different layers appearing with every sniff. Initially, there are notes of medicinal herbs, followed by blackcurrant, green capsicum, passion fruit and even lime. Perhaps the diversity of scents could be attributed to the combination of fermentations across tanks, oak barrels, concrete eggs and amphorae. The palate is focused on texture: there's reassuring padding on the mid-palate despite being light in body, while there's drive and punch on the dry, herbal finish.

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. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

The Tasting Panel 93 Points | Intense aromas of straw, grapefruit, and elderflower appear on the palate with their vibrancy intact. Pineapple upside-down cake, chervil, green tea, and glistening notes of lime zest are memorable. Elegant, with a lovely presence.

Memo Summary Notes

The 2023 Mohua Sauvignon Blanc is a bright, high-energy white wine from New Zealand’s premier Marlborough region. Named after one of New Zealand's rarest birds, the Mohua (Yellowhead), the winery is committed to sustainable practices and active bird conservation.

The 2023 vintage is highly rated for its "classic" Marlborough profile—punchy, aromatic, and incredibly refreshing.

The high acidity and herbal undertones make it a perfect match for:

    •    Fresh Seafood: Fish tacos with lime, oysters, or pan-fried snapper. Salads: Spinach salad with strawberries and feta, or an herbed goat cheese tart. Aperitif: It is light enough to be enjoyed on its own as a refreshing "backyard" summer wine.


Winemaker Description

The Little Sheep, Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough shows aromas of ripe peach and citrus notes with flavors of lemon, lime and a hint of green apple. Well-balanced acidity and a lingering hint of nectarine frames the finish.

This flexible wine will pair with a wide variety of salads, avocados, crab cakes, goat cheese, mango, green vegetables and basil, to name just a few.

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

Grapes were individually harvested from our vineyard blocks in subregions throughout Marlborough and destemmed in the field before being gently pressed and fermented. To retain the character of each subregion and block and use them to the best advantage, each block was handled individually to capture the special characteristics of the vineyard parcel.

'Spinning Cone' technology is used to reduce the alcohol from a portion of the base wine. This is a process of low vacuum distillation that can target removal of alcohol without impacting the aroma of the wine. The alcohol is reduced to below 1% on approximately 60% of the final volume, with 40% of the base blended back to achieve a final alcohol level of 7%.

COLOR: Pale yellow

AROMA: Lifted aromatics of passion fruit and guava, with some citrus notes.

PALATE: Elegant yet full flavored, its crisp acidity is highlighted with a refreshing herbal and citrus finish.

CELLAR: Enjoy now, or within one to three years, with confidence.

APPELLATION: New Zealand

PAIRINGS: Perfect for all occasions, particularly delicious with fresh seafood and vegetables.

Per 5 fl.oz average analysis: calories 70, carbohydrates 3g, protein 0g, fat 0g

Expert Review

Tasting Panel 90 Points | Weighing in at only 70 calories per serving at 7% ABV, this Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and tart, with notes of lime, mango, and gardenia. It settles gracefully on the palate thanks to bright acidity and a squeeze of grapefruit.

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. 

20 fabulously consistent harvests - Al Soper is one of the most highly awarded Sauvignon Blanc wine makers in Marlborough and 2025 will mark his 20th vintage of Rain.

Rain is a collaboration based in Marlborough between Coldwell-Soper and T. Edward, dedicated exclusively to New Zealand's premier white grape, Sauvignon Blanc. They source exclusively from sustainably managed local vineyards, crafting the grape into wines with tropical richness and lively character.

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.

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. 

The Wine Advocate - 91 Points

"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." 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 96 Points | I really like the crunchy character to this, with ripe, al dente pinot noir character highlighting the strawberry and lemon notes. Medium-bodied, lively and energetic with citrus and crushed stone undertones. This is so satisfying and fresh.

The Wine Spectator 95 Points | The 2023 Moonlight Race Pinot Noir is stalky, spicy and bright, with note of Campari/blood orange that mingle alongside dark chocolate, coffee, blood plum and star anise. If anything, this feels slightly lean rather than plush, but it works well within the scope of the wine. In the mouth, the tannins and acidity work together as one, making this wine feel integrated, serious, and fun, all at once. Recommended. It is very fine. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

The Wine Advocat 94 Points | The 2022 Moonlight Race Pinot Noir is supple and spicy, with pink peppercorn, cherry blossom, red apple skins, a hint of blond tobacco and white pepper. The wine is light in the glass (but vibrant) and the tannins suit it—they are totally fresh and fine—finely milled and like poudre. Superb, silky, totally satisfying and enlivening. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Here are some technical numbers for you. Vineyard percentage is 56% Burn Cottage Vineyard, 22% from the Sauvage Vineyard and 22% from Luna Vineyard. Seven percent whole bunch was in the ferment with 17 days on skins and oak included 22% new French oak. The wine's pH is 3.73, with a total acidity of five grams per liter.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

The Wine Advocate 91 Points | The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is mineral and fresh, with almost spritzy acidity on the palate. This is all about green fruit and soft leaf herbs, gentle persuasions of white pineapple and mint and a salty Margherita character that is really quite attractive.

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.

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 Rating - Vintage 2023

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Vibrant and generous, showing off passion fruit, lemon, peach and ginger notes up front, backed by toasted herbs, sea salt minerality and plenty of intensity on the mouthwatering finish. A hint of chive flower lingers. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | Lush and intense, with mouthwatering notes of Key lime, tangerine and lemon cream. Hints of matcha, freshly grated ginger and white pepper add complexity and aromatics through the intense finish, where the flavors gain torque, power and freshness. 

Each year, Wine Spectator editors survey the wines reviewed over the previous 12 months and select our Top 100 based on quality, value, availability and excitement.

This annual list honors successful wineries, regions and vintages around the world.

20 of 2025 - Top 100 Wines. The Wine Spectator

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | The 2024 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc leads with a gentle mix of cassis and vanilla pod, juniper, green apple and fresh linen, jasmine tea and petrichor. In the mouth, the acidity is bright, making for a crunchy, intensely flavorsome wine that has admirable restraint and finesse.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

The Wine Spectator 92 Points | Approachable and elegant, with a creamy quality to the seamless mix of maraschino cherry, framboise, lingonberry preserves and Earl Grey. Touches of loamy earth and cedar add an appealingly firming note on the finish. Drink now. 22,000 cases made, 1,500 cases imported.

James Suckling 92 Points | Enticing aromas of plums, orange peel and strawberries with hints of mushrooms that follow through to a medium body with soft, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Tangy and vivid at the end.

The Wine Advocate 90+ Points | The 2022 Pinot Noir is creamy and spicy, with poached strawberries, sumac, some oak that pokes through and plenty of chalky tannin. The wine feels a little "elbows and knees" currently; but the cuvée ages well, and this appears to have all it needs to go some distance in the cellar. It's light in frame but with persistent flavor. 13.5% alcohol. 

Winemaker Description 

Open and expressive on the nose, with notes of wild hedgerow fruits, crushed rose petals and sun-warmed red cherry. The palate is finely tuned, with silky tannins and a pure dart of acidity framing and balancing out a core of summer berries, soft spices and a touch of biscuity vanilla. Long on the finish, this wine evokes warm summer evenings, strawberries nestled under shaded leaves and the lingering scent of barbecue smoke.

Versatility is this Pinot Noir’s calling card. It matches with a wide variety of foods, including lighter game meats (duck, rabbit), lamb, roasted vegetables, berries, herbs and almost anything chargrilled.

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 

History: George Elworthy trained as a winemaker at Lincoln University, and worked several vintages in Marlborough and overseas. When Jules Taylor started her own wine label in 2008, trained winemaker and hubby George Elworthy became general manager (or “general dogsbody”). Not wanting to let wife Jules have all the fun, George launched his own label in 2011. With his tongue firmly in his cheek, he called it “The Better Half” Style: Delicious, fruit-driven wines that are meant to be enjoyed right now. Not left to gather dust in your wine rack.

Winemaking: Wines are fermented using minimal intervention and modern winemaking techniques.

Vineyards: Grapes are sourced from a selection of grower and estate vineyards in sunny Marlborough, all of which are 100% certified by the Sustainable Winegrowers NZ Scheme.

2024 Vintage:

The 2024 Marlborough season was warm, dry and windy. Vine growth began late, and it quickly became obvious that the harvest would be much smaller than previous years.

With fewer berries on the vine, the warm temperatures through summer caused one
of the shortest ripening periods on record. Cool evenings helped retain acidity during ripening and balanced the concentrated, ripe fruit flavors.

Grapes were harvested from various Marlborough sites throughout March 2024, with a high proportion coming from the slower ripening, more aromatic Awatere subregion. The wine was fermented in stainless steel at cool temperatures and bottled under screwcap for maximum freshness.

Food Match:

Enjoy al fresco with fresh shellfish with a squeeze of lime, or any kind of salad. For
something more substantial, pair it with Thai- or Vietnamese-flavored dishes.

Winemaker’s Notes:

Color: Pale yellow.

Nose: Punchy citrus aromas of lime and grapefruit leap from the glass, along with notes of guava and fresh cut grass.

Palate: Dry, juicy and intensely flavored on the palate, with bright citrus notes and a pop of guava. The finish is long, carried by vibrant, refreshing acidity and a dash of salinity.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024 

The Wine Enthusiast 90 Points - Best Buy |  Appealing aromas of lime, white peach and kiwi fruit lead to a palate that’s shows lovely, delicate fruit woven neatly with bright acidity and padded by a softly pithy texture. It steersclear of the green, underripe pungency common to this style and is the better (half) for it.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

This Pinot Noir expresses black fruits like boysenberries and blueberries with subtle floral notes and gentle acidity. The cocoa powder tannins and smoky toasty notes add complexity with a generous earthy textural finish.

This wine pairs well with New Zealand lamb, but rich enough to enhance slow cooked beef cheeks. For a plant-based alternative, try with mushroom or truffle accented dishes to accentuate its earthy character.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

Winemaker Description 

Expert Review - Vintage 2025

Winemaker Description

Whitehaven wine is made with 100% Marlborough sourced grapes for a distinctively bright & balanced style that has earned us consistently high scores.

Brighten the moment with our flagship Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc. This electrifying expression captures the lush and luminous essence of New Zealand’s most iconic wine region, Marlborough. Showcasing vivacious citrus notes, lemongrass, and green apple, accented by a crisp, herbaceous edge, the bright character of this wine is complemented by its balanced structure and long, clean finish.

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 

Very pale yellow Classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc aromas of lifted citrus, tropical fruit, and crushed herbs. A fresh, juicy wine with vibrant acidity and plenty of weight and length on the palate. Ripe, tropical fruit flavor with passion fruit, melon, and grapefruit. 

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

Pale straw with green hues. A lifted nose showing refreshing herbal notes, snow pea, melon, and fresh guava. Light-bodied and refreshing with typical Marlborough flavors of passion fruit, gooseberry, and grapefruit. A pleasing herbaceous thread leads to a long, lingering finish. Enjoy with seafood, chicken served over grilled vegetables/salad or simply on its own.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

The Wine Spectator 89 Points | Lime, ginger and yuzu flavors are generous and juicy on a light and zingy frame, while hints of sea salt and lemon verbena linger on the long finish. Drink now. 8,000 cases made, 2,500 cases imported.

Winemaker Description

The finest, lightest, gold in the glass – with dancing, lime highlights – The 2023 Estate Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc jumps with the aromas of bright gooseberry and lemon zest, yellow guava and luscious grapefruit. The palate that follows is mouthwatering in its concentration of ripe, tropical fruit. Notes of white-fleshed nectarine, and salinity build into a texture defined by freshness and balance that drives the wine powerfully towards its fine, fresh, finish. 

Winemaker Description 

This Letter B Series Sauvignon Blanc is crafted from grapes sourced from top-performing Marlborough vineyards, each wine is made in a distinctive style to reflect, not only the flavors of the region, but also the fine art of winemaking. 

Nose: opens with a riot of passionfruit, grapefruit and ripe peach aromas.
Palate: extensive and richly textured, with tropical notes, fresh citrus and bell pepper underpinned by a mineral core.

Food pairing: pairs well with a variety of dishes, including: Seafood, Grilled shrimp, oysters, ceviche, Salads: Fresh greens with vinaigrette dressing.

Memo Summary Notes

The Brancott Estate "Letter Series" B Sauvignon Blanc 2024 is a premium, single-vineyard expression from the winery that famously planted the first Sauvignon Blanc grapes in Marlborough. While the standard Brancott label is a global benchmark for a zesty, high-acid style, the "Letter Series" (specifically the 'B' for the original Brancott Vineyard) is crafted to be more complex, textured, and sophisticated.

Pair with 

Seafood: Grilled snapper, scallops in garlic butter, or Marlborough green-lip mussels.
Poultry: Roast chicken with salsa verde or lemon-thyme stuffing.
Cheese: Classic goats' cheese or a sharp, creamy Feta.