te Pā Wines · Oke · Marlborough 2024
Oke is te Pā’s barrel-fermented take on Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, bringing ripe fruit, bright acidity and integrated oak into a more textured, savory style. Fruit from the Lower Wairau and Awatere valleys balances the Wairau’s generosity with the Awatere’s freshness, herbal lift and mineral tension.
Expert Reviews · 2024
Wine Enthusiast · 94 Points · Editors’ Choice
This oak-aged wine, from unique, ultra maritime blocks owned by Maori family, the MacDonalds, drinks more like a white Bordeaux than your typical Marlborough Savvy B. It's nutty and smokey, with a mineral thread through the lemon and grapefruit. It all comes together on the palate where a rush of mouthwatering salted citrus acidity is padded out by the creamier, toastier textural elements. With beautiful linearity and tautness, this should age gracefully for another 7-8 years. But why wait? It's drinking deliciously now.
James Suckling · 93 Points
This sauvignon blanc has aromas of dried lemons, wild herbs and some mangoes. Medium-bodied with fresh acidity. Direct and succulent texture. Driven and seductive, with a lively finish.
Vinous · 92 Points
The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Oke is an intriguing, barrel-fermented expression, combining the varietal fruity/green tones with well-judged oak. Oak-derived vanilla and grilled nuts underscore blackcurrant, nectarine and green herbs. Dry and firm with fine texture and a long, scented finish, the 2024 is ready to enjoy. However, it also has the structure and substance to evolve gracefully over the coming five to eight years, particularly under screw cap.
Wine Spectator · 92 Points
Distinctive, rich and succulent, with litsea oil, grilled lemon and beeswax notes that add an appealing savory element, plus a touch of coconut water that complements the peach, lemon curd and dried mango flavors. A honeysuckle detail lingers on the finish.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate · 91 Points
The 2024 Oke Sauvignon Blanc is an oaked style of Sauvignon Blanc, and the élevage is an integral part of this wine. I find Sauvignon Blanc and oak to be awkward bedfellows, the former so easily swamped by the latter despite its propensity for exuberant fruit expression. This is the case with this wine; however, the fruit shows excellent endurance through the long finish. For fans of this style, it will be popular, and it is clear that it has been executed with sophistication in mind. Te Pa is a member of the Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) group. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
Winemaking
The Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in 320-liter French oak barrels with indigenous and selected yeasts. Lees contact builds weight and texture, while barrel maturation brings the oak and fruit into balance for a layered, savory expression.
Tasting Notes
Ripe citrus, pear and stone fruit meet tropical notes and citrus blossom. Smoky, flinty nuances sit alongside toasted nuts, vanilla and spice. Bright citrus acidity keeps the concentrated palate lively through a long, mineral-tinged finish.
About te Pā
Family-owned te Pā was founded by Haysley MacDonald. The MacDonald family traces its connection to the Wairau Bar and surrounding land back approximately 800 years to some of the earliest Māori settlers in the region, and that connection continues to inform the estate’s relationship with the land and sea.
Food Pairings
Pair with grilled or roasted fish, shellfish, lobster, scallops, roast chicken, rich soft cheeses, seafood in butter or cream sauces, or dishes with citrus and fresh herbs.
At a Glance
- Producer: te Pā Wines
- Wine: Oke Sauvignon Blanc
- Vintage: 2024
- Country: New Zealand
- Region: Marlborough
- Subregions: Lower Wairau Valley and Awatere Valley
- Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
- Style: Dry, barrel-fermented white wine
- Alcohol: 13%
- Bottle size: 750ml
- Closure: Screw cap
A textured, savory Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, with freshness to balance richer seafood and poultry dishes.
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