Pale straw color; lemon-lime, peach—stone fruits, passion fruit, white flowers, mowed grass, minerality on the nose and palate.
Dry; no tannins, cutting acidity (3.15 pH). Light-plus body. Sharp citrus elements identify this as a classic Marlborough sauv blanc, salad-in-a-glass, sauv blanc. Elegant, powerful, tight structure. Ripe fruit. 13% ABV
Davic Herd arrived in New Zealand in 1854 with a dream of farming. Those around him thought sheep, and they would do well, but Herd thought wine. And he would do well, often cited as Marlbough’s founding winemaker. He planted his first grapes on the Auntsfield Estate in 1873, making Auntsfield Marlborough’s first vineyard and winery. It took another century before commercial Marlborough vineyards took off and the region became recognized as one of the world’s premier sauv blanc region. Herd made wine until his death in 1905. His son-in-law continued the effort until 1931.
The website notes: “Our family has kept David Herd’s dream alive. Grapes which have shared ancestry with David Herd’s original vineyard are growing on the land in the same place he planted them. The way we make our mark in history is by keeping true to the past. Hidden away on the vineyard is Herd’s original wine cellar. The place he created and stored his first wines. You can see it there on our logo. If you’re ever lucky enough to step into this cellar you will be struck by the cool air, the rich smell of the soil and the feeling of history under your feet. All of these things are what make Auntsfield Estate so authentic. A place where history is still alive in the land, and in the wine.”
Auntsfield asserts its vineyards were created by a “perfect storm of geological events” that both nurture and stress the vines. Stress is a classic characteristic of premier vineyards. The vines must cling to a very thin layer of soil. The website notes: “That’s all the land will allow them – a small purchase. But what those vines do with it can only be described as magic. From this ancient and harsh landscape come wines that are unique, complex and elegant with an authenticity of place.” That place is the first place sauvignon blanc found its way to New Zealand.
Auntsfield Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Southern Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand 2022 is tight, elegant, classic Marlborough sauv blanc. Ripe fruit, lemon-lime, bright acidity, minerality. Checks all the boxes you want to check on a New Zealand sauv blanc. Dry, clean, crunchy citrus, sharp texture, impressive length. Oh, my, the Kiwis rule this style of sauv blanc, and grapes from the oldest sauvignon blanc vineyard in New Zealand evince why. Pair with shellfish, shrimp; white fish; barbecue chicken salad with sweet chili sauce; garden salads; vegetarian fare. Cheese—goat cheese is the classic sauv blanc pairing; cheddar, gouda, havarti, monterey jack, parmesan, swiss, muenster. $17-22
