Vinous

The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is a zesty, bright style with a delicate spritz providing extra liveliness. This is Hawke's Bay, so the acidity is not as racy as you'd find in Marlborough, but it's still plentiful and some CO2 gives extra pizzazz. Flavor-wise, it favors the tropical fruit spectrum of Sauvignon Blanc but also shows a hint of nettle greens that reflects its variety. While light in body, there is some richness in terms of mid-palate weight, which winemaker Phil Brodie suggests comes down to lower cropping. The 2023 is one for enjoying in its zesty youth.

Winemaker Notes

The finest, lightest, gold in the glass – with dancing, lime highlights – Estate Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc ’23 jumps with the aromas of bright gooseberry and lemon zest, yellow guava and luscious grapefruit. The palate that follows is mouthwatering in its concentration of ripe, tropical fruit. Notes of white fleshed nectarine, creaming soda and salinity build into a texture defined by freshness and balance that drives the wine powerfully towards its fine, fresh, finish. As a chilled aperitif, or as partner to seafood, Estate Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc ’23 is a refined presence offering both intensity and precision.

Estate Sauvignon Blanc ’23 is best served chilled, either as a refreshing pre-dinner glass of wine, or with salads, seafood dishes and lightly spiced foods.

Winery Notes

Te Mata is the oldest legal winery in New Zealand and since 1896 have been making wine off of these precious sites and they own some of the oldest in the game. This wine is drawn from two such estate vineyards.

The first is from the now renown Bridge Pa Triangle which kicked off a land grab in the mid 90s. The whites grown here are known for their consistent quality, delicacy, and intricate aromatics. The second vineyard is from the original plantings immediately surrounding the winery, in the Havelock Hills – some over 120 years old and known for the immense power they are capable of producing.

The balance of the two is outstanding and their estate bottlings have garnered just about the highest praise you can imagine. Jancis Robinson called the estate ‘a national treasure’ while Robert Parker simply deemed it “New Zealand’s greatest winery.” And Decanter called it “New Zealand’s first growth.”