Astrolabe Awatere Valley
Sauvignon Blanc
2022
I have been fascinated by the qualities of the Marlborough sub-regions ever since I arrived as a young winemaker in 1994. I first released my Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc in 2005. As my winemaking style has evolved, I have also moved towards an Awatere-dominant blend for my Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.
Most of Marlborough’s sauvignon blanc is planted in the northerly Wairau Valley, and the distinct sub-regional character of the southerly Awatere valley sauvignon blanc may surprise those who are more familiar with the Wairau fruit profile. The smaller Awatere valley was planted later and is distinguished by its clay soils, cooler, windier and drier climate and later harvest. We generally think of the Wairau as having more thiol-driven tropical passionfruit and ripe citrus flavours, while the Awatere is more focused around herbal, leafy methoxypyrazine flavours.
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.
Simon Waghorn — Winemaker
TASTING NOTES
COLOUR/APPEARANCE
Pale straw with green highlights.
AROMA/BOUQUET
Focused aromas of jalapeño, nettle, lime zest, lemongrass and fresh herbs.
PALATE
A linear, pure wine with clean flavours of currants, gooseberry and citrus. Finishes savoury, crisp and dry.
AGING POTENTIAL
Very enjoyable when young and fresh; will age gracefully with careful cellaring.
FOOD PAIRING
Green-lipped mussels, goat’s cheese, tabbouleh, fresh herbs and peppery leaves.
SAUVIGNON BLANC SERVING TEMPERATURE
Chilled.
2022 vintage
5 STARS
"Showing clearcut Awatere Valley sub-regional characters, the 2022 vintage (5*) 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+." NOV 22
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Michael Cooper
New Zealand Wines: Michael Coopers Buyer’s Guide
94 POINTS
"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." OCT 22
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Bob Campbell, Master of Wine
The Real Review © The Real Review
94 POINTS
"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." NOV 22
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Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier
camdouglasms.com
2021 vintage
95 POINTS
"Crisp, dry sauvignon blanc with lime, green capsicum, gooseberry, nettle, green apple and oyster-shell flavours, with great purity and length. Taut and tangy, a classic Awatere style. Drink 2021–2026." OCT 21
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Bob Campbell, Master of Wine
The Real Review © The Real Review
95 POINTS
“Fragrant and exacting bouquet, savoury, and fresh. Citrus and white stone fruits, salty air, fresh and dried herbs with a rocky mineral complexity. On the palate - delicious, tense and youthful, a core of fruit with flavours of lemon and grapefruit, white fleshed stone fruits, a savoury dried herb complexity and lengthy salivating salty finish. A delicious and vivacious wine with a core of fruit and varietal power. Best drinking from purchase and through 2025.” JUL 21
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Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier
camdouglasms.com
5 STARS
“Showing clear sub-regional characteristics, the 2021 vintage (5*) was grown at three sites in the Awatere Valley. Bright, light lemon/green, it is full-bodied and herbaceous, with melon and green capsicum flavours, revealing excellent purity and delicacy, balanced acidity and a long, fully dry finish.” AUG 21
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Michael Cooper
New Zealand Wines: Michael Coopers Buyer’s Guide
2020 vintage
92 POINTS
"Mouthwatering and intense, offering a juicy mix of Key lime, pineapple, green apple and lemongrass flavors on a sleek, vibrant frame. Features a hint of peach blossom on the finish. " May 22
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MaryAnn Worobiec, Wine Spectator Top 100
winespectator.com
Watch Bob's tasting here
Appellation Marlborough Collection
Sustainably certified SWNZ
Vegan