2023 Meltwater Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

This is a fresh and fruity wine with flavours of white flesh fruits, like peach and pear, with citrus notes and good minerality.

Organic. As you would expect of this producer, Meltwater’s hand-crafted Marlborough Sauvignon hits all the right notes, with considerably more texture and interest than this category typically delivers. For a start, it’s low-cropped from a single, certified organic vineyard in the southern foothills of the Wairau Valley. The grapes were hand-harvested into small bins and indigenous yeast fermentation occurred in tank. —an even rarer approach! For good measure, Paterson explains that during natural fermentation, a good portion of malic acidity drops out of the wine. This results in more palate breadth and means he can ferment all the sugars without having to rely on artificial balance. The wine was aged on lees for nine months over winter.

What Mike and Anna Paterson don’t know about Marlborough you could probably fit on the back of a postage stamp. And, with each passing vintage, Corofin further consummates its position among New Zealand’s most exciting producers. Now we have a new chapter in the story. 

Meltwater Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc offers a vivid palate bursting with tropical fruit notes, including ripe passionfruit, guava, and hints of mango, balanced by citrus tones of lime and grapefruit. Fresh aromas of cut grass, green herbs, and gooseberry add complexity, while a crisp acidity elevates the wine's bright, refreshing finish. This vibrant Sauvignon Blanc showcases Marlborough's signature zing and purity, providing an expressive, lingering experience on the palate.