Our View:
Greywacke was created in 2009 by Kevin Judd, the person responsible for the ground-breaking early wines produced in Marlborough, including at Cloudy Bay. The name 'Greywacke' was adopted by Kevin for his first Marlborough vineyard, located in Rapaura, in recognition of the prevalence of rounded greywacke river stones in the vineyard's soils.
This is an outstanding example of the Marlborough SB style - ripe fruit driven with a good level of flavour complexity, textural mouthfeel and a refreshing acidity.
The Wine:
Fruit was sourced from prime vineyards in Marlborough’s Southern Valleys and the central Wairau Plains (specifically Woodbourne, Renwick and Rapaura). Soil types vary from the young alluvial soils of Rapaura and Renwick, which contain high proportions of New Zealand’s ubiquitous greywacke river stones, to the older and denser clay-loams of the Southern Valleys. Most of the vineyards were trained using the divided Scott Henry canopy management system, with the balance on a two- or three-cane vertical shoot positioning trellis.
Winter of 2020 was abnormally dry and warm, leading to an early spring. A handful of frosts coincided with an early budburst, leading to reduced crops in some sites. Cool, wet weather during flowering negatively affected fruit set across the region and hot, dry conditions during the summer months further compounded the already reduced yields. Weather during March and April was near-perfect, allowing the fruit to achieve optimal ripeness without disease pressure and allowing a relatively early, leisurely harvesting schedule. Sadly, the tonnages that arrived at the winery were surprisingly modest, under-delivering on even the most conservative crop estimates. The wines show great promise, particularly sauvignon blanc which shows intense flavours and great concentration.
Tasting Note:
Summer fruit salad of poached yellow pears, baked apples, mango and rock melon, mingled with apple blossom and a twist of lemon sherbet. A delicately aromatic interpretation of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The palate, with its subtle fennel-like quality, is generous and textural, showing great concentration and finishing with a crisp, succulent finish.
Sustainable, vegetarian, vegan.
The Facts:
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Wine
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Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
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Vintage
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2021
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Style
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White Wine
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Grape Variety
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Sauvignon Blanc
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Alcohol Content
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13.5%
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Closure
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Screw cap
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Bottle Size
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750ml
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What the critics say:
98 Points, Michael Cooper, WINESTATE MAGAZINE
‘A classic, pure, Loire-like wine on the nose with fragrant lemongrass, jasmine and redcurrant aromas and smoky complexity that keeps unfolding with time in the glass. It's so concentrated as to almost taste sweet initially. The palate is viscous and potent, has a remarkable texture with striking power and length. Very impressive and worth making a fuss about.’
97 Points, Bennet & Hudson, WINERATER.CO.NZ
‘This classy wine was grown at sites in the Central Wairau Valley and Southern Valleys, and partly fermented with indigenous yeasts in old oak barrels. Full-bodied, it is vibrantly fruity, with concentrated, ripe passionfruit/lime flavours, savoury notes adding complexity, fresh acidity and a persistent finish
.’
