Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wines get Exceptional rating
Two Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs receive Exceptional rating at a Decanter Wine Panel Tasting after scoring 98 points out of 100
Two Marlborough Savuignon Blancs—Tinpot Hut Sauvignon Blanc 2016 and Auntsfield’s Single Vineyard Southern Valleys Sauvignon Blanc 2016—received an Exceptional rating in a Decanter Wine Panel Tasting after scoring 98 points out of 100.
Talking about the rating, which is reserved for wines scoring between 98 and 100 on a 100-point system, Decanter Tasting Assistant Natalie Earl says that from the data they have on panel tastings, this is a first for a Sauvignon Blanc from around the world.
Auntsfield winemaker Luc Cowley says, "It shows that Marlborough quality Sauvignon Blanc delivers exceptional wines with a strong sense of place and those rare characteristics of minerality, complexity, and structure, and they deserve to be placed alongside some of the best wines in the world."
Tinpot Hut winemaker Fiona Turner agrees and adds that the fact that not only the two wines but also many other Marlborough wines scoring 90 plus is a testament to the quality of the wine produced by the region.
"2016 was a difficult vintage in Marlborough for many reasons and the wines gaining such good scores from that year, is really heartening. To grow really good Sauvignon it takes a lot of work, a lot of commitment and just as much time and effort as many other varieties," Fiona says.
Bob Campbell MW, Decanter Wine Awards regional chair for New Zealand and chair of the tasting panel, agrees. He says most international wine critics would agree that Marlborough makes the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc but are often not taken as seriously as others.
Apart from these two wines gaining Exceptional ratings, another three from Marlborough gained Outstanding scores of between 95 and 97 points, while 25 wines (18 from Marlborough) were Highly Recommended with scores of between 90 and 94.
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