2024 Greystone Organic Sauvignon Blanc, Waipara

Mid-gold. This is a deeply scented and spicy sauvignon blanc. It has masses of complexity coming from a ripe, almost exotic fruit expression of ugli fruit and calamansi, as well as carefully judged winemaking expressed as lemon curd and spicy oak. The powerful, dry palate is concentrated, almost creamy in texture, with very long flavours which persist right to the end. There is no evident herbaceousness in this sauvignon blanc but tension and tautness comes in the form of sinewy acidity. Approachable now, it can be enjoyed over the next few years as it turns more savoury and complex. Drink to 2032.

95 points Stephen Wong for The Real Review, March 2026

About this wine

The 2024 growing season was marked by dryness. The cool start led to reduced yields, but the warm summer and settled autumn ripened fruit perfectly.

Large parts of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc sites are planted a single Bordeaux sourced clone of Sauvignon Blanc, the MS. The Greystone vineyard is however mostly planted to two Loire clones, the 376 and the 530, with the vines producing small bunches of golden coloured grapes. This blend is a combination of all three.

The gently pressed is settled before a slow, seven-month fermentation with indigenous yeast in well-seasoned French oak barrels. The wine is allowed an almost full malolactic conversion, with lees stirring adding further texture and depth to the wine.

About this producer

Greystone is a certified organic producer of wines in the Omihi Hills area of Waipara on New Zealand’s South Island. Established in 2000, it remains in the hands of the Thomas family, whose love of the land extends well beyond organics, with sustainability woven into all aspects of the business, and rejuvenation of the land an ongoing part of life.