2025 Yealands Single Block S1 Sauvignon Blanc, Awatere Valley

A powerful expression, the enticing bouquet shows passionfruit, crunchy apple, green rockmelon, and kaffir lime leaf aromas, leading to a concentrated palate offering terrific fruit purity, fleshy texture, and beautifully pitched acidity. Wonderfully styled with classic flavours, making it hugely appealing. At its best: now to 2029. $30.00

96 points Sam Kim for Wine Orbit

Yealands' Single Block S1 vineyard in the Awatere Valley pushes Sauvignon Blanc to its most intense expression, planted on stony, free draining soils where vines struggle and concentrate their energy into smaller, more flavorful berries. The Awatere's harsh winds and dramatic diurnal temperature swings create one of Marlborough's most challenging yet rewarding sites for the variety. The 2025 vintage captures all the hallmarks of great Awatere Sauvignon: piercing aromatics, laser like acidity and a mineral backbone that distinguishes it from the broader Wairau Valley expressions.

Pale straw with brilliant clarity, the wine explodes from the glass with classic Marlborough intensity. Gooseberry, passionfruit and grapefruit dominate, backed by lime zest, cut grass and jalapeño pepper. There's a distinctive flinty minerality running through it, hints of crushed stone and sea spray that speak to the vineyard's proximity to the coast. The palate is crisp and mouthwatering, delivering tropical fruit flavors of guava and pineapple alongside citrus pith and green herbs. Racy acidity provides electric energy, driving a long, precise finish that leaves the mouth tingling with lemon and mineral.

Match with fresh seafood where the wine's acidity and intensity can shine: raw oysters with mignonette, ceviche bursting with lime and chili, or seared scallops with citrus beurre blanc. The Sauvignon works brilliantly with fish tacos topped with mango salsa, Thai fish cakes with sweet chili sauce, or grilled prawns with garlic and herbs. Lighter fare like goat cheese salad with herbs, asparagus with lemon butter, or sushi and sashimi all benefit from the wine's vibrant, zesty character. Vietnamese summer rolls or Greek salad with feta offer perfect vegetarian pairings.