2025 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

Ripe and fruity, core varietal scents of cape gooseberry and fresh basil, pineapple and mango, grapefruit and citrus peel. A wine with a deep core of minerality as well suggesting a silty soil and stony earthy suggestions. Taut and dry, an electric acid line with a natural fruit sweetness quality delivering contrast and flavour. As the wine warms on the palate the flavours expand with some lime and orange melon, dried herb and stone. An excellent example with best drinking from day of purchase through 2031.

94 points Excellent Cameron Douglas MS

Few names are more closely associated with the rise of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc than Kevin Judd. After helping establish Cloudy Bay as one of New Zealand's most influential wineries, Judd launched Greywacke in 2009, naming the project after the ancient greywacke river stones that underpin many of Marlborough's vineyards. Today, Greywacke is regarded as one of the region's benchmark producers, combining meticulous vineyard selection with a winemaking philosophy that favours texture, complexity and site expression over simple fruit exuberance.

The 2025 Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from mature vineyards throughout Marlborough's Southern Valleys and Wairau Plains. A long, sunny growing season and cool nights allowed the fruit to ripen slowly, building intense flavour while preserving the bright natural acidity that defines the region. Careful harvesting and cool fermentation ensure maximum aromatic purity, while a small portion of wild fermentation contributes extra texture and complexity.

Pale straw with brilliant green highlights, the wine bursts from the glass with aromas of passionfruit, guava and kaffir lime, layered with notes of grapefruit, blackcurrant leaf and fresh herbs. As it opens, hints of white peach and citrus blossom emerge, adding further intrigue. The palate is vibrant and concentrated, delivering waves of tropical fruit, lime zest and crunchy green apple balanced by a distinctive mineral edge. A beautifully textured mouthfeel and lively acidity carry the wine through a long, refreshing finish that lingers with citrus and subtle savoury notes.

Freshly shucked oysters, grilled king prawns, ceviche, Thai green papaya salad, goat's cheese tart or steamed mussels with garlic and herbs are all superb partners. While irresistible in its youth, the wine has the balance to develop additional complexity over the next five to seven years. This remains one of Marlborough's finest Sauvignon Blancs, offering purity, energy and a level of sophistication that continues to set the benchmark.