2023 Astrolabe Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

Softly aromatic with gooseberry and refreshing herbaceous aromas of tomato stalk. The palate enters with sweet apple before giving way to the greener flavours, ending on a light green bean note. Dry, herbaceous and light-bodied, with some chalky grip on the finish which suggests it will gain in complexity and even some weight across the coming year 20 Dec 2024 Drink 2024–2026

90 points Stephen Wong MW therealreview.com

Astrolabe’s Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc is a vivid, finely etched expression of Marlborough’s cooler, more structured subregion. Winemaker Simon Waghorn has long championed the Awatere, preferring its wind-whipped sites, stony soils and naturally low yields for producing Sauvignon Blanc with more focus, minerality, and detail than the broader Marlborough style. This isn’t about ripe tropical fruit—it’s about purity, precision and poise.

The wine leaps from the glass with aromas of lime leaf, fresh herbs, green apple and subtle passionfruit, laced with tomato stem and a touch of white florals. On the palate, it’s tightly wound and energetic—mouth-watering acidity, flinty minerality and citrus pith run the show, supported by a long, dry finish. A small portion of the wine is fermented and matured on fine lees to bring just enough texture to balance the cut of the acidity, but the real focus is on brightness and length.

This style is tailor-made for food—pair it with fresh goat’s cheese, grilled fish tacos, green Thai curry or even a summer salad packed with peas, fennel, and mint. It’s also a natural with shellfish, particularly green-lipped mussels or clams with garlic and lemon.