Selected for the Appellation Marlborough Annual Collection 2022
A different expression to the well known "Province" Sauvignon Blanc, the Awatere Sauvignon focuses on Marlborough's more southern Awatere Valley, and the one that Bob Campbell MW has consistently scored in the mid-nineties for many years now. It's absolutely classical in Awatere character with grassy, green capsicum and tomato leaf flavours all wrapped up in a powerful and punchy mouthfeel and a nice line of bright mineral acidity draws out the finish.
Simon Waghorn, Winemaker notes (2022 Vintage)
"Focused aromas of jalapeño, nettle, lime zest, lemongrass and fresh herbs. A linear, pure wine with clean flavours of currants, gooseberry and citrus. Finishes savoury, crisp and dry.
When I put this wine together, I really try to showcase parcels of fruit that I think are uber-Awatere, expressing the essence of the Awatere region. I always blend from Awatere valley vineyards on the north and south of the river to reflect the different soil fertility and flavour these sites contribute. Even though this wine is all about the Awatere, I am trying to show the Awatere as a whole, rather than just a single vineyard site.
The clay in the soils provides a nice mouth-coating texture. It has all those cedar and tobacco notes we get in the Awatere as well as all those green spectrum flavours we get across the board. This wine is a little more mineral than my Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and a little more singular, because it’s blended from only two or three sites every year. It doesn’t have the vineyard complexity of our Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, but it has a lovely sense of place localised to the Awatere sub-region.
My Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc is dry and has an emphasis on aromatic herbs and fresh, green fruits, with a full and lingering mouthfeel, balanced acidity and a savoury, almost saline finish. The winemaking techniques are identical to my Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, and the differences entirely come from site selection and blending."
Selected for the Appellation Marlborough Annual Collection 2022 (2022 Vintage)
Winemaker press release: "Appellation Marlborough has launched a new initiative to select 12 sauvignon blancs each year to represent our region. We are extremely proud to have earned two spots in the top 12: our Astrolabe Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Astrolabe Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2022. The purpose of the collection is to showcase the best examples of Marlborough sauvignon blanc. You can find more about Appellation Marlborough on their website. The judges were Emma Jenkins MW, Liz Wheadon and Cameron Douglas MS, and more than 60 wines from Marlborough’s best producers were tasted blind. There were only nine places reserved for classic styles, and we are the only producer to have two wines in that category. For these two wines, Simon is looking for a pure expression of variety and region, so he is pleased to see this being appreciated by the judges."
5 Stars Michael Cooper, November 2022 (2022 Vintage)
"Showing clearcut Awatere Valley sub-regional characters, the 2022 vintage is mouthfilling and pungently varietal. Bright, light lemon/green, it is vigorous and youthful, with pure, penetrating, tropical fruit and green capsicum flavours, lees-aging complexity, a minerally streak and a crisp, dry, lingering finish. Best drinking mid-2023+."
Rated Excellent & 94/100 Cameron Douglas MS, November 2022 (2022 Vintage)
"Pungent and savoury, distinctive aromas of the seaside and sand, a mix of apples and grapefruit, fresh herbs and aromatic white spices. Complex, youthful and enticing. Delicious on the palate, dry and savoury, flavours of citrus and apple skin, dried herbs and spice moments. Plenty of acidity and finely textured mouthfeel with a light saline quality. Best drinking from mid to late 2023 through 2027."
94/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, October 2022 (2022 Vintage)
"Creamy-textured sauvignon blanc with gooseberry, lime, lemongrass and fresh asparagus flavours. Quite Sancerre-like with refreshing acidity, good weight and varietal definition with spicy red capsicum characters. Drink 2022 to 2026."
4 Stars Yvonne Lorkin, January 2023 (2022 Vintage)
"Boasting that unmistakable Awatere Valley florality, this sauvignon has a refreshing, peach blossom perfume, basil, soft passionfruit and a hint of lawn clippings on the nose and palate. Zesty textures and a clean, linear mouthfeel add buoyancy and complexity to its lime-laced finish. Nice one Astrolabe!"