A RARE DROP
MARY-THERESE BLAIR can’t get enough of this crop of intensely flavoured sauvignon blancs.
AH, MOTHER NATURE, she giveth and she taketh away… and nowhere is that more true than for the 2021 sauvignon blanc vintage. This year’s sauvignon crop has astounded viticulturalists and winemakers alike: superbly clean, high-quality fruit abundant with flavour. The only issue is, there’s not enough of it: not by a long shot, with some brands reporting up to 30% decline in volume. With the rest of the world clamouring to get their hands on New Zealand’s flagship varietal, it’s not ideal.
There’s an old Irish proverb that states, ‘An rud is annamh is iontach’ which literally translates to ‘the thing that is seldom, is wonderful’ reminding us that life’s rarities are precious. This is most certainly the case for 2021 sauvignon: the low yield has ensured intense flavour concentration in the fruit and the end result is bottled liquid magic. Grab yourself one of our bewitching top-rated wines to be part of something truly special.
TASTING PANEL
Ben Glover, owner and head winemaker for Zephyr Wines in Marlborough and internationally regarded wine judge, led this panel and was joined by two experienced wine professionals: Stu Marfell, chief winemaker for Vavasour and Grove Mill wineries who was awarded Winemaker of the Show at the New Zealand International Wine Show 2018; and Matt Murphy, Mount Riley Wines chief winemaker and renowned New Zealand senior wine judge.