Winemaker Phil Brodie makes no secret of his fondness for crafting this layered, barrel-fermented wine. Sauvignon blanc plus a little sauvignon gris and semillon are all blended into a succulent, savoury white; fresh lime, nectarine and grapefruit flavours are supported by a touch of new oak and a definite layer of struck-match complexity. A rich, textural bone-dry wine that will age magnificently.
Fabulously composed and expressed with Granny Smith apple, lemon/lime peel, white floral and oatmeal characters, it’s juicy and wonderfully flavoursome in the mouth delivering excellent fruit purity and intensity with a subtle savoury/saline nuance. Brilliantly structured and super long on the finish. At its best: now to 2033. Points: 95/100
A blend of sauvignon blanc 85%, semillon 9% and sauvignon gris 6%. Fermented and matured in oak for 11 months. Richly textured, bone-dry wine with oak and nutty yeast lees quite prominent, although the slightly grassy varietal character is clearly evident. A classy wine. Points: 94/100
Te Mata's barrel-fermented Sauvignon is blended with a little Semillon and Sauvignon Gris. This vintage is as deftly crafted as the last but is more tightly wound when first opened. Give it air and only a quick chill to allow the citrus, dried tarragon, white blossoms and cream to shine. The acidity is bracing and the oak shows a bit on the palate, but overall there's beautiful length, texture and flavor depth on this well-structured wine. Points: 93/100
Light, bright yellow-straw hue, with a pungent lemon zest and burnt-lime aroma, nutty and spicy reflections, with extra dimensions added by barrel fermentation, although it's hard to identify overt oak character. The wine is very intense in the mouth, concentrated and powerful, with tremendous length and a very even line, assisted by vibrant acidity. An impressive style. Points: 96/100
Gooseberry, matchstick, passionfruit pith and leaf, fennel. Tight, gooseberry, lime and grapefruit, fine mineral things happening here, chalky and dusty texture, precision and freshness, intense, with very good length, and layer of subtle creaminess and spiced oak. A calmer, more confident expression of Sauvignon in 2020. A fair bit of bottle age will see it improve further, I feel. 94+ Points. Points: 94/100
