Greywacke Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Greywacke is the new label for Kevin Judd, Cloudy Bay’s pioneering winemaker. After 25 years with Cloudy Bay, Kevin’s new venture will allow him to further his dual careers in winemaking and wine photography to new heights. Named after the ubiquitous sandstone rock that is found in much of New Zealand and especially in Marlborough, Greywacke’s first vintage is 2009 and its inaugural release is a ‘straight’ Sauvignon Blanc. It will be joined next year by a Pinot Gris, Riesling and Late Harvest Gewurztraminer, and a ‘Wild’ Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to be released in 2011 after appropriate barrel maturation. The fruit sources for all the wines come from mature vineyards in the central Wairau Plains and Southern Valleys, including those of friend Ivan Sutherland, ex viticulturist for Cloudy Bay. The winemaking facilities of Dog Point Winery, owned by Ivan Sutherland and James Healy, former Cloudy Bay oenologist will serve as the vinification base for Greywacke.
The 2009 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc is classical Marlborough Sauvignon, with perfectly ripened tropical and soft gooseberry fruit flavours on a seamless palate with silken textures and acidity. For added subtle complexities, a portion of the fruit was hand-picked and fermented in old barriques with indigenous yeasts. It is beautiful drinking. Kevin Judd has continued the class he created at Cloudy Bay with this wine.
The wine’s release coincides with the publication of ‘The Landscape of New Zealand Wine’, a magnificent collection of photography of vineyard scenes throughout the country, with commentary by Kevin along with words from Bob Campbell MW. The book is a must for wine lovers who appreciate the unique beauty our wine regions offer, and is available from good bookshops at $79.99.

Saint Clair ‘Wairau Reserve’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009
The most awarded Sauvignon Blanc label, Saint Clair’s ‘Wairau Reserve’ has become one of the most sought-after of this variety. Its production is always limited due to the strict selection processes, which are key to its success. In 2009, the fruit was sourced from two vineyards, one in Dillons Road and the other on Thomsons Ford Road. The quality of the fruit is personally appraised by Saint Clair’s owners, Neal and Judy Ibbotson, who are amongst this country’s most experienced growers, along with the winemaking team led by Matt Thomson and Hamish Clark. The winemaking is pure and simple. 100% stainless steel at cool temperatures and no intervention. Yet again, they have captured the maximum passionfruit, boxwood and blackcurrant expression of the grape allied to refreshing minerality and acidity. A statement wine for sure, but quite extraordinary. How can a wine so powerful retain balance and finesse? That is the impressive magic and wonder of Saint Clair’s ‘Wairau Reserve’ Sauvignon Blanc.

Eradus Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Michiel and Hanna Eradus have 12 hectares planted in the Awatere Valley. Their ‘Breloft’ vineyard first yielded wine in 2006 and the Sauvignon Blanc from that vintage was an instant success winning gold at the Air N.Z. Wine Awards. Every vintage since has been a multiple gold or 5 star awarded wine, proving the superior quality of the site and clear-cut approach to interpreting the cooler Awatere climate. The 2009 Eradus Sauvignon Blanc continues the style and tradition with its pristine gooseberry and minerally fruit aromas and flavours and precisely constructed palate that tames the piercing acidity to give fabulous cut and cleanliness. There would be fewer wines that would pair as well as this with Bluff oysters! Already 5 stars in Winestate and from Michael Cooper, and undoubtedly more awards to come.

Starborough Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009
With vineyards in O’Dwyers Road in Rapaura and also on the Starborough estate in the Awatere, the Jones family has the best of both worlds in Marlborough. After supplying premium fruit for some of the top labels in Marlborough, the Jones released their own wine, under the Starborough brand in 2008. The wines have proven to have instant appeal, the Sauvignon Blanc possessing the rich, sweet breadth of passionfruit pungency that comes from Rapaura fruit, combined with the purity and steel of Sauvignon from the Awatere. The 2009 Starborough Sauvignon Blanc is a crowd pleaser as the 2008 and indeed takes the label up another level with a touch more ripeness. It was recently awarded gold at the Liquorland ‘Top 100’. Starborough is an exciting new label to follow.