2025 Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
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Body: medium-bodied. Fuller than most white wines from ; 12.5% alcohol.
Acidity: high. from the temperate climate of .
Aromas: green notes, tropical fruit and orchard fruit, typical of
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Log inSaint Clair is named after James Sinclair, who was responsible for the first settlements in Blenheim, New Zealand, the home of the winery on the South Island. Founded in 1978, the family business is among the pioneers of viticulture in Marlborough. Hence, the link to pioneer James Sinclair was quickly established. Saint Clair owns over 270 hectares of vineyards in Marlborough on the South Island, and in Hawke's Bay on the North Island.
The Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is Saint Clair's flagship. Produced in very small quantities, the wine has achieved iconic status in many markets around the world and is considered New Zealand's most awarded Sauvignon Blanc.
The Sauvignon grapes for the Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc come from vineyards in the south of the Wairau Valley, New Zealand. The vineyards are located close to the coast, which provides significant cooling. The temperature difference between day and night is large. As a result, the grapes ripen slowly, which enhances flavor concentration. After harvesting, the grapes are pressed, with contact with the skins avoided as much as possible. The juice is cold-fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve maximum freshness.
In the glass, this amazing Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is a typical lemon yellow. On the nose, the wine has expressive aromas of redcurrant, passion fruit, and green notes (blackcurrant leaf, grass), and naturally, citrus as well. On the nose, this is a rich wine with plenty of passion fruit, papaya, and melon, combined with a saline touch. Delicious with oysters and mussels.
FUN FACT: In the Attachment tab, you will find the official factsheet for this fine wine. We will automatically send it to you upon ordering this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to pick it up, you will often receive a nice discount.
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James Suckling
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93
"The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve Wairau reminds me of a mint and pea salad that screams summer when I'm tasting in the depths of winter. It’s rich and round with sweet mango flavors, excellent intensity of fruit, and plenty of punch. There's no denying the quality is there, as this displays concentration, length and intensity. I'd like the fruit to be a little less sweet, but that is the nature of the site." - Vinous
"Kervel, groene kruiden, citrus. Fris, sap, vulling, vief." - 4,5/5 sterren, Perswijn over de 2020-vintage
"Klassiek, elegant, puur en precies. Met een mineralig, groen karakter en een hint van vuursteen. Strakkere stijl. Vingers aflikken bij schelpdieren." - 4/5 sterren, WineLIFE over de 2019-vintage
"A fresh, ripe and bright sauvignon with abundant tropical fruit. Lime and green-mango flavors really drive the palate. Fresh, elegant and focused. Drink now. Screw cap." - 92 punten, James Suckling over de 2018-vintage
"Crushed stone and bruised tomato leaves mark the nose of the 2018 Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, which this year comes from the same vineyard as the Pioneer Block 3 bottling. This offering is perhaps a bit riper and less herbaceous, with flavors of white currants and grapefruit on the medium-bodied palate. There's a bit of silkiness to the texture, and it has a long, focused finish." - 90 punten, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate over de 2018-vintage
"An individual parcel picked out by the Saint Clair winemaking team as the best of their 2018s, this is from the lower part of the Wairau Valley where proximity to the ocean and cooler night-time temperatures encourage a longer hang-time, and therefore good flavour development in the grapes. Saint Clair has got winning gold medals for Sauv Blanc down to a fine art, and you can see why here. It has a wonderful nose of leafy key lime pie with touches of refreshing mint. It's big and bold on the palate but with great balance and restraint, showing bags of juicy citrus zestiness. If you're going to splash out on one top-flight NZ SB this summer, then this one will surely fit the bill." - 96 punten, Decanter over de 2018-vintage
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Saint Clair is named after James Sinclair, who was responsible for the early settlements in Blenheim, New Zealand, home to the South Island winery. Founded in 1978, the family-owned winery is one of the pioneers of winegrowing in Marlborough. Hence, the link with pioneer James Sinclair was soon established. Saint Clair owns 270 acres of vineyards in Marlborough on the South Island and Hawke's Bay on the North Island.
Fris en levendig van smaak met heldere tonen van citrus en limoen, passievrucht en groene appel, aangevuld met kruidige grasachtige accenten en een ziltige, mineraalachtige afdronk, waardoor de wijn een knapperende, hoge zuurgraad heeft die veel frisheid brengt. Hierdoor vormt hij een perfecte partner voor oesters, mosselen en lichte witte vis of salades omdat de zuren vette of zilte smaken snijden en de fruitigheid frisse tegenklanken biedt; bijzonder geslaagd bij rauwe bereidingen zoals ceviche of sashimi, gegrilde vis met citroen en verse kruiden, of gestoomde schelpdieren met witte wijn en peterselie, en bij salades met een citrus- of yoghurtvinaigrette.
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