New Zealand — wine
Marlborough
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has defined a global style category. The pungent, herbaceous, passion-fruit and capsicum character — driven by methoxypyrazines and thiols — was unknown in the world wine lexicon until Cloudy Bay's inaugural 1985 vintage arrived in London. Within five years, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc had become one of the defining trends in wine retail. The Wairau Valley produces the classic Marlborough style; the Awatere Valley (cooler, more exposed) produces leaner, more mineral expressions with higher acidity; the Southern Valleys produce riper, rounder styles.
Benchmark products
Vintage assessments
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 86 | Recovery year. Dry summer conditions. Classic Sauvignon Blanc character. Pinot Noir excellent in warmer Wairau sites. |
| 2022 | 85 | Cyclone Gita legacy: some flooding in autumn. Yields down but quality good from elevated sites. Sauvignon Blanc bright and fresh. |
| 2021 | 94 | Exceptional season. Long, cool ripening. Sauvignon Blanc with extraordinary complexity and length. Pinot Noir with depth rivalling 2016. |
| 2020 | 88 | COVID vintage — minimal tourism, focused winemaking. Very good quality. Sauvignon Blanc with freshness and precision. Clean finish. |
| 2019 | 91 | Excellent conditions. Classic Sauvignon Blanc with vibrant acidity. Wairau Valley intense, Awatere Valley structured. Both outstanding. |
| 2018 | 90 | Warm, dry vintage. Ripe Sauvignon Blanc with citrus and stone fruit. Excellent Pinot Noir harvest. Clean across all varieties. |
| 2017 | 84 | Wet vintage with disease pressure. Variable quality. Best wines came from well-drained sites. Sauvignon Blanc more tropical and phenolic. |
| 2016 | 95 | Outstanding vintage across all varieties. Sauvignon Blanc of benchmark quality — aromatic intensity, precision, and longevity. Classic NZ. |
| 2015 | 87 | Good Sauvignon Blanc vintage. Classic expression with passionfruit, gooseberry, and mineral lift. Pinot Gris and Riesling also noteworthy. |