SOLD OUT! With a severe shortage of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc on the horizon, I have been stocking up, and I was more than happy to take my 10 case allocation of Walnut Block this year. Click here to read about why New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs will be in short supply in the coming months.
Let's get one thing straight, the quality here is incredibly high. Yes, producers lost a lot of grapes due to spring frosts, but the fruit left hanging was of a very high quality. Thus, it is a bad vintage in terms of quantity, but NOT IN TERMS OF QUALITY.
2021 Walnut Block Sauvignon Blanc 'Collectables'
SOLD OUT
I wish nature was perfect and predictable, but we know that's not the case, and the wine producers of Marlborough were dealt a blow in 2021. Severe spring frosts resulted in a huge loss of high quality grapes, like a 30% or more loss. That's the bad news. The good news is that the crop that survived is of exceptional quality, but bad news again, there's not enough supply to meet demand.
We will make it folks. Trust me, now is a better time than ever to check out South African, Italian, American, and/or French Sauvignon Blanc(s). The grape thrives pretty much everywhere, so don't stress too hard, and don't read to deeply into the dramatic hype. Wine writers get paid to write, and this is certainly worthy of print, but not worthy of an anxiety attack. With that being said, if Marlborough Sauvie is your thing, this one is pretty darned good.
Brothers Clyde and Nigel Sowman farm their 17 hectares of vines with great care, and the Collectables label depicts an adaptation of the 1898 Kiwi New Zealand stamp. Great label, but even better wine. The brothers commitment to organic viticulture and old school winemaking is evident from first sniff to last sip.
This is truly artisanal wine, not just some mass-produced Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc you'll find at every grocery store. Aromas of lime, guava, grapefruit, and green herbs are the "opening act" of this wine -- that's pleasant and all, but trust me, it gets better. As this one gets a little more temperature and air, it becomes a complete wine.
I love the aroma, but texture is the name of the game here folks. Aroma is easy and can be achieved with selected yeasts, but harmonious and lasting texture and flavor can only be gained with patience, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. That meant waiting for fully ripe grapes (many of which were destroyed), aging on the lees to enhance mouthfeel, and acceptance that Nature is what it is.
Being a vigneron is not easy, but 2021 proved to be hellish in Marlborough. Yet, the Sowman brothers determined they were going to make a great wine, and a great wine they made. You won't find a better deal on New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at Table Wine for the next several months. Get some!
ORDER NOW in our online store. We will apply deal pricing once we receive your order.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville