2017 Hans Herzog Sauvignon Blanc Sur Lie, Marlborough

Rich, complex wine with nutty oak, ginger, brioche and yeasty lees dominating ripe sauvignon blanc characters. A weighty, textural wine that is showing the benefit of a little bottle-age, but clearly has more development potential ahead. 

93 points Bob Campbell MW therealreview.com

2017 Hans Herzog Sauvignon Blanc Sur Lie is one of the most distinctive and serious expressions of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, crafted with a philosophy that looks far beyond simple fruit and immediate aromatics. The wine comes from the Herzog family’s organically farmed vineyards in the Wairau Valley, where free draining alluvial soils and a cool, dry climate allow Sauvignon Blanc to ripen slowly with intense flavour and naturally high acidity. What sets this wine apart is the sur lie aging, a Burgundian inspired technique that involves extended contact with fine lees, building texture, savoury complexity and longevity rarely associated with the variety in New Zealand.

Hans Herzog is one of Marlborough’s true originals. Born in Switzerland, he trained and worked across Europe before establishing his estate in New Zealand in the early 1990s. Herzog brought a deeply European mindset to Marlborough, focusing on low yields, organic farming and wines built for the table and the cellar rather than immediate impact. His Sauvignon Blanc Sur Lie is a direct expression of that philosophy, fermented and matured with patience, often seeing time in older oak or neutral vessels to add structure without overt flavour. The result is a Sauvignon Blanc that challenges expectations and rewards attention.

In the glass the wine shows a pale gold colour with green highlights. Aromas are complex and layered, offering citrus zest, white peach, quince and subtle tropical notes, supported by flinty mineral, fresh herbs and a gentle smoky nuance. The palate is textural and composed, delivering concentrated citrus and stone fruit wrapped in creamy lees derived richness, balanced by bright acidity and a long, savoury finish. It pairs beautifully with seafood, shellfish, roast chicken, pork and richer vegetable dishes, and it has the structure to age confidently for ten years or more, developing honeyed, nutty and savoury notes over time.

2017 Hans Herzog Sauvignon Blanc Sur Lie is a profound and thoughtful wine that redefines Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, combining varietal clarity with depth, texture and long term aging potential.