Marlborough may be the engine room of New Zealand’s sauvignon blanc production, but it would be remiss to ignore the variety from other parts of the country so today’s selection highlights wines from both Martinborough and Central Otago. A criticism sometimes levelled at sauvignon blanc is that it can be a bit of a one-trick pony — a similarity to many wines, yet that familiarity and reliability is appealing to so many consumers. You absolutely do get what it says on the tin. But variety exists if you’re prepared to look for it. The Martinborough trio were reminiscent of the Marlborough style, though each with points of difference. The Central trio took refreshingly different paths. 2025 Te Kairanga Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $21 Rating Very Good to Excellent Bold and pungent, passionfruit jumps out of the glass, cut grass, smoke, candied lemon zest. Ripely fruited, almost a light honeyed note, then snapped into line by a tangy counterpoint. Suppleness to the mid-palate, flowing to a long, gooseberry tinged close. Right on the money for easy drinking now. www.tkwine.co.nz 2025 Martinborough Vineyard Te Tera Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $18 Rating Very Good to Excellent Some subtlety to the nose initially before red capsicum, tomato leaf and gooseberry perk their heads up. Fruit sweetness, quietly rounded, tomato skin, gooseberry, fruit pastille. As this opens up it picks up more raciness and a refreshing citrus element which keeps the whole thing nicely zesty. www.martinborough-vineyard.co.nz 2025 Martinborough Vineyard Home Block Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $21 Rating Very Good to Excellent Fruit lozenge like notes display the fruit sweetness, then nettles, herbs, gooseberry, citrus and a stony quality. Cool in the mouth, fruit sweetness leavened by bright acidity, nettles, again the chopped herbs. Nice and lively in the mouth, it has a refreshing bittersweet element that frames the close. www.martinborough-vineyard.co.nz 2025 Maude Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $28 Rating Excellent Rather than a typical bold handshake, this is more a gentle caress. Subtlety, takes a citrussy path, light gooseberry and herb notes in the wings, nutty (cashew?) notes later. Fine, elegant palate rather than ‘‘in your face’’, yet this is deceptively engaging and moreish. Citrus drives the palate, the fruit sweetness matched by zesty acidity. One to take time over. www.maudewines.com 2024 Rabbit Ranch Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $19.50 Rating Very Good to Excellent This hits some different notes, lovely fragrance, orange zest and apricot lead, gooseberry and green herb follow with air. The palate offers stonefruit notes, gooseberry and herb holding sway as the wine opens up. Bright yet not strident acidity, fine structure underpinning the whole, this leaves you feeling refreshed. Rewarding wine that is not typically Marlborough. www.rabbitranch.co.nz 2024 Mora Old Vine Pisa Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $43 Rating Excellent Also taking a different path, stonefruit, smoke, stone/flint, hinting at snow pea, a fruit jelly fragrance, gooseberry. A really appealing touch of grip and chewiness that adds to the texture, backbone that would make it a great companion to food. Quite serious, full of flavour, great length while the racy acidity neatly contrasts the sweet fruit on the close. www.mora.co.nz
