2024 Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills

Are you even a legit wine personage, if this wine is not within hands reach? THE go to Australian Sauvignon Blanc for a reason. For 35 years this wine has been out the front of the pack and drawing the wine lovers attention to the Hills. This vintage shows winter melon, nashi pears and lemon drop shots, remember them?! There is a touch of chrysanthemum tea, creme fraiche and glace pineapple. Acidity thrills and beckons you back with a skerrick of fruit sweetness and a crisp crunchy apple skin finish. Its zesty, clean and well mannered without any gooseberry or passionfruit curd aggressively punching you in the face. Serve alongside a bright fattoush salad.

93 points Shanteh Wale winecompanion.com.au

Perhaps one of Australia's most famed sauvignon blancs with a seemingly unnerving level of quality for the pricepoint. No slouch here, a zesty, fresh, bright and crisp rendering of the variety. Resplendent with passionfruit, just-ripe pineapple, lime and cut-grass characters between the bouquet and palate, very even, flows well, finishes with decent length and a light chalky pucker. Just so, done well, easy drinking and moderately complex to boot.

93 points Special Value Mike Bennie winecompanion.com.au

The Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc from Adelaide Hills is one of Australia’s most iconic white wines, renowned for its vibrant freshness, aromatic intensity, and regional purity. Shaw + Smith, a family-owned winery established in 1989 by cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith, has become a benchmark producer of Sauvignon Blanc in Australia, particularly from the cool-climate Adelaide Hills region.

The Adelaide Hills' high altitude and cool temperatures are ideal for cultivating Sauvignon Blanc. Grapes for this wine are sourced from carefully selected vineyards, including Shaw + Smith’s own estate plantings, where sustainable practices are a priority. The fruit is hand-picked to ensure optimal ripeness and is fermented in stainless steel tanks to retain its crispness and varietal character.

In the glass, the wine appears pale straw with a bright green tinge. The nose bursts with aromas of passionfruit, grapefruit, and green apple, interwoven with fresh herbal notes and a subtle hint of lime zest.

On the palate, the Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc is lively and refreshing, offering flavors of citrus, tropical fruit, and a touch of gooseberry. A vibrant acidity and a fine mineral edge balance the wine beautifully, leading to a clean, crisp finish.

This Sauvignon Blanc pairs wonderfully with fresh seafood, salads, or goat cheese. Its zesty and versatile profile makes it a delightful choice for warm-weather occasions or as an aperitif. While best enjoyed in its youth for its bright aromatics, it can also age gracefully for a few years, developing softer, more rounded flavors.