Sale!

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Our Black Label range is crafted specifically to complement food. Showcasing the unique depth and complexity of a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, this rich, well-rounded classic offers ripe tropical fruits and citrus notes with a mineral spiced finish.

TASTING NOTES

Inviting and musky. Gooseberry, mandarin and a hint of fennel.

Fresh and lively on entry with lemon, lime, gooseberry and blackcurrant. Mid-palate builds in weight and flavours of grapefruit and honeydew melon join. Pineapple evident on the finish. Soft and layered with a lingering spicy finish.

Grapes from our Waihopai, Awatere and Wairau Valley Estates were picked, crushed, and pressed with minimal skin contact. The juice was clarified then fermented in stainless steel tanks with a variety of yeast species to build in some textural and flavour complexity. A portion underwent malolactic fermentation also. After extensive tastings by the winemakers, this blend was assembled, lightly fined and bottled.

This Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wine can be enjoyed with a variety of foods. An iIdeal partner for seafood.

TASTING NOTES

Pungent with black currant and boxwood. Lime, gooseberry and smoky herbals also apparent.

Fleshy and fruit-sweet entry heavy with passionfruit and a little blackcurrant. Underling this we have complex herbal and citrus notes. Mineral and spice on the finish. Nice breadth and length.

Grapes from our Waihopai, Awatere and Wairau Valley Estates were picked, crushed, and pressed with minimal skin contact. The juice was clarified then fermented in stainless steel tanks with a variety of yeast species to build in some textural and flavour complexity. A small percentage underwent malolactic fermentation also. After extensive tastings by the winemakers, this blend was assembled, lightly fined and bottled.

This Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wine can be enjoyed with a variety of foods. Ideal partner for seafood.

94 POINTS - Cameron Douglas MS
93 POINTS - MaryAnn Worobiec, www.WineSpectator.com
Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines #21
90 POINTS - James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com
93 Points - Decanter World Wines Awards 2023
92 POINTS - Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast
91 POINTS - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

"Intense and generous, with mango, orange sherbet and apricot flavors, along with notes of sweetgrass and lemon blossoms on a fleshy, juicy frame. Reveals fresh ginger and a hint of jasmine on the finish. Drink now." 93 POINTS - MaryAnn Worobiec

"Aromas of dragon fruit, green bell pepper and peaches. Medium-bodied with silky texture. Fresh and bright. Soft finish. Sustainable." - 90 POINTS - James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com

"Pungent, bright, ripe and fresh fruited with aromas of lemon and peach, tropical fruits and fresh basil. There's a distinctive mineral quality with wet stones and salty air adding complexity . Crisp and fresh on the palate, a salivating acid line and vibrant fruit flavours of gooseberry and lemon, some tropical fruit moments and fruit spice qualities. Balanced and well made." - 94 POINTS - Cameron Douglas MS

"Waxy lime, grapefruit, grass and crisp green bell pepper open this balanced, food friendly Sauvignon. It evens feels a little floral. On the palate, a citrusy zing lends brightness to the waxy textural richness. There's a long limey finish. Easy to sip both on its own or with a meal." - 92 Points - Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast

TASTING NOTES

Guava, pawpaw and passionfruit aromas layered with grapefruit and a smoky green musk. Exotic. Fat tropical entry and a full round mid-palate packed with fresh gooseberry, mango and stone fruit. Poised and powerful with a hint of jalapeño and lingering spice on the finish.

Grapes from our Waihopai Valley Estates were picked, crushed, and pressed with minimal skin contact. After some stirring, the juice was clarified then fermented in stainless steel tanks with a variety of yeast species to build in some textural and flavour complexity. A small percentage underwent malolactic fermentation also. After extensive tastings by the winemakers, this blend was assembled, lightly fined and bottled.

This Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wine can be enjoyed with a variety of foods. Ideal partner for seafood.

SILVER MEDAL - San Francisco International Wine Competition 2021
91 POINTS - Decanter World Wine Awards 2022

"A classically styled wine with an elegant and sophisticated complexity as well. Aromas and flavours of mango and passionfruit, grapefruit and spice. Flavours of peach and apple alongside fresh herbs with a savoury edge. A fine mineral layers brings complexity while acidity beings mouthfeel and freshness. balanced and well made with best drinking from 2021 through 2025." 93 POINTS - Cameron Douglas MS, www.camdouglasms.com 26 Nov 2021

TASTING NOTES

Our Black Label Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is richly perfumed with mango and nectarine, mineral and lime. Sweet herbals and a hint of fresh pea out of the pod. Sweet fruits, mango and golden kiwifruit, are quickly joined by a light spice element along with quince and mandarin. A complex and mouth-watering wine.

Grapes from our Waihopai and Upper Wairau Valley Estates were picked, crushed and pressed with minimal skin contact. The juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks at various temperatures, and with a variety of yeast species to build in some textural and flavour complexity. A small percentage underwent malolactic fermentation also. After extensive tastings by the winemakers, this blend was assembled, lightly fined and bottled.

This award winning wine can be enjoyed with a variety of foods. Ideal partner for seafood.

SILVER MEDAL - Decanter World Wine Awards 2021
90 POINTS – JamesSuckling.com – Jan 2021
95 POINTS – Cameron Douglas MS, Decanter Magazine, Dec 2020
5 STARS - Winestate Magazine, Mar 2021

"Designed for on-premise consumption, this classy, tightly structured, youthful wine is fresh and full-bodied, with generous, ripe, tropical fruit flavours, showing a distinct touch of complexity, moderate acidity and a finely poised, dry, lingering finish." - Winestate Magazine, Mar 2021

TASTING NOTES

Perfumed and pungent with blackcurrant, passionfruit and a hint of mace. A dense and textural palate with lime and mandarin, kiwifruit and green apple. Fruit concentration provides focus and length. Spicy on finish.

Grapes from our Waihopai, Awatere and Wairau Valley Estates were picked, crushed and pressed at perfect ripeness. The juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks at various temperatures, and with a mix of wild and inoculated yeast to build in some textural and flavour complexity. A small percentage underwent malolactic fermentation also. After extensive tastings by the winemakers this blend was assembled, lightly fined and bottled.

This award winning wine can be enjoyed with a variety of foods. Ideal partner for seafood.

DOUBLE GOLD - San Francisco International Wine Awards 2020
DOUBLE GOLD - NEW ZEALAND WINE OF THE YEAR - China Wine & Spirits Awards 2020
SILVER MEDAL - International Wine Challenge 2020

TASTING NOTES

Aromas of blackcurrant and citrus with white florals , minty herbals and a touch of smoke. Immediate fruit attack on entry - mandarin, red apples, passionfruit that then moves through the spectrum to lime, lemon and feijoa/herbals. Tropical and textured with freshness and length.

After harvest at our Marlborough vineyards, the grapes were quickly crushed and pressed into stainless steel tanks, where most of the juice was fermented at a range of temperatures to capture the intense varietal flavours. A small portion of juice was fermented in old oak barriques to contribute to the weight and complexity of the wine. After extensive tasting trials by the winemakers, the wine was then blended, finished and bottled.

This award winning wine can be enjoyed with a variety of food. Serve with veal, seafood (brilliant with oysters) or a chicken dish, such as a mild chicken korma with crispy poppadums.

GOLD MEDAL - International Wine & Spirits Competition 2019
GOLD MEDAL - New York Wine & Spirits Competition 2019
GOLD MEDAL - Las Vegas Global Wine Awards 2019
GOLD MEDAL  - Korea Wine Challenge 2019
GOLD MEDAL - China Wine & Spirits Awards 2019
91 POINTS - James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com, Oct 2018
92 POINTS - Bob Campbell, www.therealreview.com, Oct 2018
90 POINTS - Decanter World Wine Awards 2019

"A pure expression of intense, ripe tropical fruit in the mango and peach zone. The palate has a lot of fleshy, flavorsome tropical fruit and nicely captured freshness."
91 POINTS - James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com, Oct 2018

"Attractive and rather mellow sauvignon blanc with quite a creamy texture and capsicum, passionfruit and lemongrass flavours. An accessible wine with a dry, peppery finish."
92 POINTS - Bob Campbell, www.therealreview.com, Oct 2018

"Citrus and nettle aromas. Decent weight on the palate with hints of bitter lemon and savoury notes and a long delicate finish."
90 POINTS - Decanter World Wine Awards 2019

TASTING NOTES

Lifted and perfumed aromas with smoke and citrus blossom overlaying notes of blackcurrant and gooseberry. A lush sweet fruited entry full of exotic green fruits leads into a big hit of passionfruit with blackcurrant and gooseberry following on from the nose. Driving, juicy and balanced.

After harvest at our Marlborough vineyards, the grapes were quickly crushed and pressed into stainless steel tanks, where most of the juice was fermented at a range of temperatures to capture the intense varietal flavours. A small portion of juice was fermented in old oak barriques to contribute to the weight and complexity of the wine. After extensive tasting trials by the winemakers, the wine was then blended, finished and bottled.

This award winning wine can be enjoyed with a variety of food. Serve with veal, seafood (brilliant with oysters) or a chicken dish, such as a mild chicken korma with crispy poppadums.

GOLD MEDAL - WSWA 74th Annual Convention @ Exposition Wines & Spirits Tasting Competition 2018
GOLD MEDAL - Berlin International Wine Competition 2018
GOLD MEDAL - Seoul International Wine Competition 2017
GOLD MEDAL - China Wine & Spirits Awards 2018
SILVER MEDAL - New Zealand Aromatic Wine Competition 2017
SILVER MEDAL - Japan Wine Challenge 2018
SILVER MEDAL - Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters 2018

"Leafy, vegetative aromas of crushed tomato leaves join textbook passion fruit notes on the nose of Babich's 2017 Black Label Sauvignon Blanc. This medium-bodied wine lacks the ripeness of the single-vineyard bottlings but perhaps delivers a more typical Marlborough experience, blending herbs and tropical fruits before finishing with a blast of zesty citrus."
89 POINTS - Jo Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, Feb 2018

"Bright, light straw-yellow colour, paler on the rim.  The nose is fresh with a firm core of well-concentrated aromas of passionfruit with notes of snow peas, fresh herbs, and subtle nettle and cut-grass elements.  Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate is firm and tightly concentrated with a heart of passionfruit and tropical fruit, along with cut-grass, nettle and thirst-quenching minerals.  The palate features slippery acidity and plenty of energy and drive, with good linearity.  The wine carries to a taut, lingering finish of passionfruit, herbs and nettles.  This is a tightly bound, finely concentrated Sauvignon Blanc with passionfruit, herb, nettle and mineral flavours with a slippery mouthfeel and good line."
4 STARS - Raymond Chan, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, Apr 2018