Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Wairau River Sauvignon is a classy, full, yet restrained New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in the Sancerre style, which comes from Phil and Chris Rose beautiful vineyards in Rapaura, Marlborough.

We think that this Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc stands out as refined and elegant, with intense grapefruit aromas with light tropical fruit hints. It has expressive flavours of stone fruits, grapefruit with tropical hints mid palate and a lovely purity. There are flinty, mineral hints here too. A crisp, yet smooth Sauvignon Blanc, which is expressive, nicely structured and very long. it is great for all occasions.

What a lovely review from Jancis Robinson MW of the 2024 vintage, below!

Reviews

2024 Vintage

“Green fruit and bottled green figs with a light herbal freshness. Fragrant without excess. Fresh and salty on the finish, the little bit of residual sugar well hidden. Light-bodied and light on its feet.”  16/20  Jancis Robinson MW; Drink 2026 – 27

2023 Vintage

“A heady perfume of salted lime, basil, dill and star fruit is dazzling. Just ripened pineapple makes a vivid first impression, followed by green garden herbs and a line of crushed stone. Crisp and clean.  91 Points.”  Wine.com

2022 Vintage

“Our judges’ jaws dropped with every sip of this dry, incredibly concentrated style bursting with crystalline complexity, grapefruit and capiscum notes which elevated it to epic heights, generosity and flow. Truly stunning from a challenging vintage.”  Gold Medal & Top wine of 12 Sauvignon Blancs in Dish Magazine NZ Tasting including Saint Clair and Yealands.

“Intensely aromatic and deliciously expressed. The fragrant bouquet shows passion fruit, kaffir lime leading to a powerfully flavoursome palate offering terrific fruit purity and persistence. Gorgeously appealing and highly enjoyable.”  Sam Kim, Wine Orbit 95 Points/5 Stars

“Intensely aromatic with passion fruit, Granny Smith apples and some complexity. It’s juicy and lingering with loads of delectable flavours.” Top 50 NZ Wine Tasting – New World Wine Awards – 95 Points

2021 Vintage

“Georgeous expression… and intensely powerful…with outstanding concentration. 94 Points: 5 Stars:” Sam Kim – Wine Orbit NZ (wine judge and critic)

About the Producer

Phil and Chris Rose were pioneers in the late 1970s when they planted the Vineyards near the banks of the beautiful braided Wairau River. (Wairau is Maori for ‘many waters’). Originally they grew grapes for other producers, like Cloudy Bay. In 1991 they decided to produce their own wine and started more extensive planting, building a winery in 2002. Today, they are joined by 5 children and extended family, making this one of the foremost 100% family owned vineyards, with some of the most mature vineyards, in Marlborough. The land bordering Wairau River is at the foot of the Richmond Range of hills; it enjoys long warm days and cold nights providing favourable conditions for growing quality grapes. Their wines are elegant and subtle.

About the vintage

2024 provided perfect conditions for a small but stellar harvest in March. The early spring (2023) was marked by patchy flowering. The growing season was not exceptionally cold or wet and it wasn’t exceptionally warm either.  After two slightly bigger harvests, a small harvest is no bad thing as there can be “oversupply”.  The good news for consumers is that the quality of Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs is very good indeed.

Check out our competitive price; sells in some Independent Wine Merchants £14.59 – £18.95

Food match: An elegant and poised Aperitif; Great with seafood including grilled Sea Bass, roasted Mediterranean Vegetables, Asparagus, Chicken dishes, fresh Pea Soup.