INTRODUCING OUR TOP SCORERS
1
Tiki Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 ($19.99)
Gold Medal
BEST BUY
“I love the gorgeous green herb, classic lawn clipping, lime and tomato leaf aromas,” said Yvonne. “It has incredible palate presence, gum-tingling texture in the mouth and a lingering finish.” Ant and Lauren noted the phenolics* and fruit ripeness worked a treat.
All the judges felt the limey acidity, chalkiness, boniness and freshness added up to a beautifully built wine. tikiwine.com
2
Spinyback Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2020 ($19.99)
Gold Medal
BEST BUY
This sensational wine bursts with sweet passion fruit and floral aromatics, crunchycrisp acidity and complex “herb garden, curry leaf, basil and mint characters,” noted Yvonne. Lauren commented on its generosity, drive, blackcurrant leaf and green thiols*. It’s a seriously tasty sauvignon blanc with warm texture and generosity. spinyback.co.nz
3
Old Coach Road Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2020 ($14)
Gold Medal
BEST BUY
Nelson does it again! Lauren was taken with this wine’s “grassy tomato leaf notes and powerful varietal character”. Our judges also noted pear and white stonefruit flavours, which have become interesting regional traits. Yvonne also remarked it had hints of melon, fennel and blackcurrant leaf. Sensational value for money here. seifried.co.nz
4
Seifried Estate Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2020 ($18)
Gold Medal
BEST BUY
A seriously sippable sauvignon you can find in pretty much any supermarket nationwide. This wine boasts a fabulously flinty nose with hints of grapefruit, a fantastic mouthfilling, herbal edge and “punchy lime and luscious
length,” noted Ant. “Vibrant acidity” and “nicely balanced sweetness” were common descriptors from all judges. seifried.co.nz
5
Clifford Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 ($16)
Gold Medal
BEST BUY
“Bursting with classic citrus, green herbs, tomato leaf, passion fruit and capsicum characters, it’s nicely structured with excellent persistence of flavour,” enthused Yvonne.
And it was that structure that impressed our other judges, who also noted its floral delicacy, balanced sweetness and lemon notes.
cliffordbay.co.nz
6
Blackenbrook Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2020 ($20)
Gold Medal
BEST BUY
Extremely fresh and packed with varietal ‘punch’, according to Ant, this wine was an instant hit. “Limes, melon, juicy citrus and beautiful balance” is what won Yvonne over, and Lauren agreed. “It’s highly aromatic, with ripe pear and saline notes, great tension and power on the palate and impressive generosity and texture,” she added. blackenbrook.co.nz
7
Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 ($34.90)
Gold Medal
“Definitely one for those who love sav in its overt style,” said Yvonne. Ant found it intensely fresh and punchy with vibrant aromatics. Lauren was seduced by its crunchy, sherberty acidity, power on the palate and marathonlike persistence of flavour. Concentrated and cleansing, it’s a star. saintclair.co.nz
8
Marisco The King’s Favour Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 ($21)
Gold Medal
Our judges all noted the precision and balance of this wine, and that it had fantastic varietal definition and intensity of flavour. It’s a wine that unfurls new aromas and flavours with every swirl of the glass and leaves a squeak of smoke and minerality in the mouth. Delicious.
marisco.co.nz
9
Martinborough Vineyard Te Tera Sauvignon Blanc 2019 ($20)
Gold Medal
BEST BUY
“Whoever made this wine really knows what they’re doing,” remarked Yvonne. Well it turns out Martinborough Vineyard’s winemaker Paul Mason has indeed poured all his talent into this incredibly concentrated, ultra-flavoursome sauvignon. Combine classic capsicum, crushed herbs, citrus and tomato leaf loveliness and you’ve got gold-medal material right here.
martinborough-vineyard.co.nz
10
Sileni Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 ($19.99)
Gold Medal
BEST BUY
This wine elicited instant wows from our judges. Yvonne loved the pungency of the classic capsicum and powerful passion fruit flavours, while Lauren added “lovely balance, elegance and texture” to her list of loves. Brisk, bright and bursting with crunchy green herbs, it’s a deliciously snappy, fresh sip. A classic crisp, signature Marlborough style. sileni.co.nz
11
Nautilus Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 ($23)
Silver Medal
Nautilus are one of the aristocrats of sauvignon blanc, and it’s easy to see why. With punchy nettles, passion fruit, lemongrass and a hint of flint and gun smoke, our judges found this a very attractive wine indeed. Yvonne loved the white pepper and fresh-picked puha on the nose. nautilusestate.com
12
Zephyr MK111 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 ($31.99) Silver Medal
Boasting a deliciously dry texture and creamy, slightly funky generosity, this smooth wine will have your lips smacking in no time. Juicy lemon, sweet basil, smoked passion fruit and sugar snap pea notes wash across the palate. Our judges felt it was the splash of barrel ferment that gave it interesting complexity and oomph. zephyrwine.com
13
Yealands Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 ($18.95)
Silver Medal
If you prefer your sauvignon bursting with herbaceous intensity, buckets of citrus and lovely, mineral-driven layers of flavour, then this won’t disappoint. “Loads of jalapeño, basil, peppercorn and grassy notes,” noted Yvonne, and Ant was impressed with its brightness and balance. Lauren added that it had ripeness and raciness for days. Very well made indeed. yealands.co.nz