Highly recommended
90-94pts
Hunter’s, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021
RJ 94 MB 95 RP 92
£14.95-£16.99 Castang, Experience Wine, Field & Fawcett, Gorey Wine Cellar, Guest Wines, Jeroboams, Laithwaites
Pristine fruit characters. Citrus-green, rose petal aromas. A poise that champions Sauvignon. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13.5%
Glover Family Vineyards, Tanners, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021
RJ 94 MB 94 RP 90
£13.95 Tanners
Beautiful fruit purity running seamlessly from nose right through to abundantly long length. Pink grapefruit and gentle layers of restrained mango; creamy and focused on the finish. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13%
Astrolabe, Taihoa Vineyard, Kēkerengū Coast, Marlborough 2020
RJ 92 MB 92 RP 91
£30 Armit
Restrained elegance that gently simmers to the top. The integration of oak is harmonious. Has an aytpical, cinnamoncardamom-spiced profile. Length is clean and full. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13.5%
Isabel Estate, Marlborough 2021
RJ 93 MB 91 RP 92
£19.99 Widely available via UK agent Bancroft Wines
Crushed fresh peas sit playfully with citrus, hints of nettles and a gunpowder matchstick uplift. A well-balanced wine.
Drink 2022-2026 Alc 13%
Johner Estate, Gladstone, Wairarapa 2020
RJ 95 MB 93 RP 93
£16.99 Virgin Wines
Plentiful lemon balm, zest, bright juicy pineapple, cape gooseberries and kaffir nuances. The mid-palate is so clean and focused; has a delicate acid line and long, enticing finish. Drink 2022-2024 Alc 13.5%
Forrest Wines, The Doctors’, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021
RJ 95 MB 86 RP 95
£9.75-£11.99 Cadman, Frontier Fine Wines, Gerrard Seel, JN Wines, Luvians, Majestic, T Wright, Tesco, Waitrose, Wine Down
Expressive citrus and fruit salad. Very clean, pure and refined. Impressive example of a lighter ABV wine. Drink 2022-2024 Alc 9.5%
Mount Brown Estates, Waipara Valley, North Canterbury 2021
RJ 92 MB 94 RP 90
£13.95 Davy’s, Hennings
Freshness! Passion fruit, kaffir and custard apple. Linear and crisp acidity lines, full of promise and delivers across the palate with integrity. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 12%
Delta Estate, Lower Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021
RJ 94 MB 94 RP 92
£14.99 Hennings
Refined excellence. Textured and layered, and the depth of flavour is immense. The balance between citrus freshness and cool restrained tropical fruit is perfect. Layers of complexity. Drink 2022-2024 Alc 13%
Main Divide, Waipara Valley, North Canterbury 2021
RJ 93 MB 94 RP 92 £16.75-£17.75
Grape to Glass, NZ House of Wine, Oak N4, The Grocery, Vinvm
Freshly cut grass dances between ripe lemons, limes and passion fruit. Racy on the mid-palate. Zippy and sassy with oodles of complexity. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13.5%
Gladstone Vineyard, Estate, Gladstone, Wairarapa 2020
RJ 92 MB 92 RP 92
£13.99-£17 Bottles Worcester, The Vineking, Vindependents, WoodWinters
Limey, fresh aromatics – bright, upbeat and tingly. There’s a sense of refinement here, almost Sancerre in style, with a saline edge. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 14%
Mount Fishtail Wines, Mount Fishtail Sur Lie, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021
RJ 92 MB 92 RP 91
POA
Barton Brownsdon & Sadler
Kaffir lime, guava and elderflower on the palate. Juicy, aromatic and restrained passion fruit. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13%
‘There was a huge added problem in 2021, and that was the labour shortage, due to Covid restrictions’ --------------------------- Rebecca Palmer
Mt Difficulty, Bannockburn, Central Otago 2021 RJ 93 MB 93 RP 90 £18.50-£19.50
Cadman, Ellis Wines, NZ House of Wine, Specialist Cellars
Abundantly green and vivacious. Green apples, taut acid and fine delicate vegetals. Layered rather well. A lean but perfect example. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 14%
Borthwick Vineyards, Paper Road, Gladstone, Wairarapa 2021
RJ 92 MB 89 RP 91
£17 Armit
Crisp, clean, enticing nose and palate. Alphonso mango with sweet grilled pineapple. Wonderful depth and complexity of fruits supported by lively acid and a spiced finish. Drink 2022-2023
Alc 13.6%
Church Road, Grand Reserve, Hawke’s Bay 2019
RJ 91 MB 90 RP 91 church-road.com
Expressive nuances of ripe mango and pineapple. An intuitive use of oak complements the ripeness of the fruit. This has complexity and depth, and is crying out for fish and chips. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13%
Palliser Estate, Martinborough, Wairarapa 2021
RJ 94 MB 90 RP 90
£11.40 Justerini & Brooks
Lovely vegetal aromas including sweet peas, asparagus and peppers. Buttercups, floral notes and a stunning perfume on the front palate. Textured and spiced, with apricots and nectarines, plus a gooseberry and elderflower hit. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13%
Rimapere Vineyards, Plot 101, Rapaura Road, Marlborough 2021 RJ 94 MB 90 RP 92 £24.99
DBM Wines, Majestic, Ocado, Waddesdon Wines
Salted lemons and briny character; spicy, silky, uplifting. Bright acidity, with hints of passion fruit and wet grass. A real crowdpleaser. Drink 2022-2024 Alc 14%
Foley Wines, Grove Mill, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021
RJ 90 MB 94 RP 89
£9.50-£10 Co-op, The Wine Society
Aromatic with bursts of lime, florals and crushed fresh peas. Passion fruit, guava and elderflower notes. Has a minerality that creates structure and poise, letting the fruit shine. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13%
Saint Clair, Barrique, Marlborough 2020
RJ 92 MB 89 RP 91
£20.25 Hallgarten Wines, NZ House of Wine, Strictly Wine
Citrus, pear, vanilla and cardamom oak. This has a purity of fruit that excels alongside alluring texture, which is silky, helping to give the impression of body. Well managed. Drink 2022-2024 Alc 12.5%
Steve Bird, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021
RJ 93 MB 90 RP 93
£19 The Wine Arcade
Sweet perfume dominates the nose. Ripe and fresh stone fruits bring this wine alive. Concentrated and fresh, with a mouthcleansing texture. Steely, impressive length.
Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13%
Catalina Sounds, Sound of White, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough 2019
RJ 90 MB 92 RP 90
£20 Amps, D Byrne & Co, Hoults, NY Wines, WoodWinters
Expressive and zesty with umami characters. A lovely persistence, with oak integration providing an incredible backdrop for delicate tropical notes and sweet spice. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 12.5%
Kim Crawford, Spitfire Small Parcels, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021
RJ 92 MB 88 RP 92
£21.99 Liberty Wines, Martinez Wines, WoodWinters
Clean and fresh, with lychee, passion fruit, guava, thai lime and kaffir. Flinty nuances provide further complexity. Quite long on the finish. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13%
Settlement, Heritage, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021
RJ 90 MB 94 RP 90
£14.50 The Wine Society
Bright lemon pith, with fresh lime and fine herbs. Delicate vegetal undertones creep across the palate, along with opulent fruits. This is light on its feet, and well balanced.
Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13%
‘We three judges considered whether there is a lighter, more focused Sauvignon Blanc style emerging’ --------------------------- Roger Jones
Te Mata Estate, Hawke’s Bay 2021
RJ 90 MB 92 RP 90
£20.99 Vinvm, Wine Direct
This wine is definitely an extrovert! A wonderfully pungent nose of green bell peppers, tomato leaf and saline. Spices and tiny clusters of dancing fruit on the palate, with citrus hints, lemon and lime. Focused.
Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13%
Brancott Estate, Classic, Marlborough 2021
RJ 90 MB 92 RP 88
£9.50-£10 Asda, Cellier, Co-op, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose
Classic crowd pleaser, tropical with clean focused fruit, paw paw, guava and alphonso mango. The zippy refreshing acid directs the flavours to a pure and long, lively finish.
Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13.5%
E&J Gallo Winery, Whitehaven, Marlborough 2021
RJ 91 MB 92 RP 88
£13.99-£16 Cadman, Vivino
Welcome aromas of honeyed bananas and soft citrus fruits. Complexity enhanced by silky texture and weight. Well balanced, with a decent finish. Drink 2022-2025 Alc 13%
Greystone, Organic, Waipara Valley, North Canterbury 2020 RJ 90 MB 88 RP 92 £15.99-£18.99
Cadman, Frontier Fine Wine, The Wine Centre Great Horkesley, Waitrose
Restrained, elegant and refined, with layers of ripe banana peel and pineapple leaves underpinned by elderflower and nettles.
Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13.5%
Te Pā, Reserve Collection Seaside, Lower Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021
RJ 91 MB 92 RP 90
£15 Buckingham Schenk
Ripe fruit profile with passion fruit and crème anglaise; bright and focused. Struck match is prevalent from nose to palate. Sense of harmony and fullness, and yet light. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13.5%
Clouston & Co, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021
RJ 90 MB 90 RP 91
£16.95 Slurp
Restrained but bursting with passion fruit from start to finish. Lemon-lime marmalade with gentle spices, some baked apples, cordial and lime curd. Finishes with poise and attitude. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 12.5%
Elephant Hill, Hawke’s Bay 2018
RJ 92 MB 86 RP 92
£15.95 Corney & Barrow
Fruits are slowly turning tertiary. Full of flavour, from buttercups to stone fruit to racy fruit. This has character, depth and freshness. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 12.5%
Invivo X, SJP, Marlborough 2021
RJ 90 MB 90 RP 90
£15-£18 Harvey Nichols, Ocado, Tesco,
Wine Delivered
Clean and fresh aromatics here; tropical and citrus fruits with some herbs. The frisky line of acidity provides attitude and fun.
Drink 2022-2025 Alc 13%
Ant Moore, Central Wairau, Marlborough 2021 RJ 90 MB 92 RP 89 £13.99
Cellar Twelve, The Sipster, Vinotopia, Walkers Wines
Pure and damn fine! Lime leaf, citrus, guava, tropical fruit. So crisp and clean it’s pristine. Spiced acidity, fresh on second taste. Evolves more volcanic and pure, with a focus. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13%
Craggy Range, Marlborough 2021
RJ 91 MB 90 RP 89
£15.99-£18.50 Harvey Nichols, Waitrose Cellar Light, appealing lemon-lime and pear cordial characters, like cut grass on a summer day. The synergy of savoury and sweet makes this an exemplary bottling.
Drink 2022-2026 Alc 13%
Framingham, Marlborough 2021
RJ 91 MB 90 RP 90
£16.99-£17.50 Liberty Wines, NZ House of Wine, Nickolls & Perks, NY Wines, Specialist Cellars Kaffir lime-focused, with stony, flinty nuances across the mid-palate. Concentrated but bright, fresh and limey, with delicate quince and crab apple at the end. Drink 2022-2026 Alc 13.5%
Marisco Vineyards, Emma Marris, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough 2021
RJ 90 MB 92 RP 88
£11.99 Majestic
Fresh-forward and approachable, this wine has hints of red apples and passion fruit as well as a touch of herbaceous coriander. Ripe-fruited and expressive, with zingy acids. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13%
Nautilus, Marlborough 2021 RJ 91 MB 90 RP 88
£13-£18 Cadman, Co-op, Specialist Cellars Perfectly ripe stone fruit unveiled across the mid- and back-palate. Richly textured and full flavoured, this is evolving. Abundant patches and complexity of fruit unfold and the length is full of flavours and personality. Drink 2022-2026 Alc 13.5%
Seifried Estate, Nelson 2021 RJ 92 MB 90 RP 88 £14.99-£15.99 Liquorice, NZ House of Wine, Waitrose Bright, focused and polished, with Williams pear and orchard fruit. Structurally balanced between acidity and fruit concentration. Notes of flint on the finish.
Drink 2022-2023 Alc 12.5%
Peregrine, Mohua, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021 RJ 90 MB 90 RP 91 £15.95 The Great Wine Co An archetypal Sauvignon wine, with an abundance of tropical notes interlaced with a herbaceous thread. Rich in flavour and texture. A well-balanced wine with some silky length. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 12.5%
Steve Bird, Manu, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021 RJ 90 MB 92 RP 89 £17.50 The Wine Arcade Concentrated lime, citrus and fines herbes.
Focused precision, restrained fruit, layered and textured. Fresh, clean acidity leaving a tingling palate. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13%
Saint Clair, Reserve, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021 RJ 90 MB 90 RP 90
£22.85-£25.99 Cadman, Fintry Wines, Hay Wines, Hallgarten Wines, Majestic, Wine Republic Savoury in style, with abundant vegetal aromas of asparagus and bell peppers on the nose. Has a crisp, focused and rippling finish. Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13%
Yealands Estate, Single Vineyard, Awatere, Marlborough 2021 RJ 90 MB 92 RP 87 £13.95-£14.99
Booths, Chiltern Wines, Majestic, ND John, NY Wines, The Great Wine Co Struck match and flint dominate the nose. Classic asparagus meets citrus and rose. Concentrated fruit aromas and saline, synchronised by a pulsing acidic backbone.
Drink 2022-2023 Alc 13%