Following a trio of strong vintages, there’s no doubt that Marlborough vintners had a much tougher time in 2022 with a colder, wetter season keeping them on their toes. Of course, viticulturists and winemakers need to be nimble to deal with whatever vagaries Mother Nature throws at them. Early tastings are showing some wines that don’t quite have the richness and depth of a great vintage, but nevertheless offer typically zesty, appealing drinking even in their youth. They may well fatten up in bottle over the summer too! 2021 Misha’s Vineyard The Starlet Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $32 Rating Very Good to Excellent An explosion of flavour, powerful feijoa and passionfruit qualities, sweat and grassiness. Softer, more supple mouthfeel than the nose might suggest. Wine gums, licorice, ripe gooseberry with a chalky element adding to the textural interest. Hits some different buttons. With aeration, the nose picks up a brambly nuance as the palate weight grows. www.mishasvineyard.com 2022 Riverby Estate Single Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $22 Rating Very Good to Excellent Sweetly fragrant, initially tropically fruited with ripe banana and gummy bear, an undercurrent of gooseberry and cut grass becomes more evident. A sense of roundness at first before the acidity kicks in. Gooseberry, wisps of tobacco, even a touch of citrus as it opens up before a whisper of sweetness/ sweet fruit frames the finish. www.riverbyestate.com 2022 Rapaura Springs Bull Paddock Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $27.90 Rating Very Good to Excellent Pungent nose of passionfruit and sweat, a little lanolin/ wet wool too. Bold and engaging with an appealing creamy texture on entry. The passionfruit notes carry on to the palate, gooseberry, a light brambly touch. Nice balance and carry of flavours on the finish. Grows in depth and power with aeration. www.rapaurasprings.co.nz 2022 Rapaura Springs Rohe-Rapuara Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $24.90 Rating Excellent Attractively, typically fragrant nose with cut grass, gooseberry, sweat, a little fruit pastille with aeration. Again, a creamy, silky texture, citrus, lime cordial, grassy/ brambly elements shifting to the tropical fruit spectrum. Develops some lovely zestiness and appealing chewiness to the palate. A classicism to this with a long finish. www.rapaurasprings.co.nz 2022 Rapaura Springs Rohe-Dillons Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $20 Rating Excellent This one takes me off on a tangent, gooseberry crumble, citrus, hints of schisty minerality, biscuit dough, wine gums. Fresh and vibrant, a tingly quality to this giving a lip-smacking salivatory aspect. Excellent flavour intensity and balance adding hints of orange zest, which brings a bittersweet touch to the close. Rather nice. www.rapaurasprings.co.nz 2022 Rapaura Springs Rohe-Blind River Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Price RRP $24.90 Rating Excellent to Outstanding Initially a subtle nose, the characters unfurling. Spice, baguette, stonefruit edging tropical, a grassy touch. Power and weight, supple, rich yet a line of racy acidity keeps this poised. Sweet fruit to the fore, citrus, confectionery, stony minerality threaded through the palate with hints of chalky phenolics. Delightful balance, a long, lip-smacking, fruit-filled finish. www.rapaurasprings.co.nz
