New Zealand: Marlborough

A picture of a vineyeard in Marlborough, With bare, rolling hills in the background

Marlborough

Key Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir

This spectacular region is most famous for its Sauvignon Blanc, a style British writer Oz Clarke claimed in the 1990s was “arguably the best in the world”. Marlborough also produces some of the best value Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir in the country.

Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc

Saint Clair
Sauvignon Blanc 2010

‘Consistently one of New Zealand’s top Sauvignon Blanc producers. This wine is deliciously crisp and intense with flavours of passionfruit and blackcurrant with underlying gooseberry tones.’

92/100
Dan Murphy’s Wine Panel

Vavasour Pinot Gris

Vavasour
Pinot Gris 2009

‘…this has bright, ripe stone fruits and tropicals…The palate’s smartly built on a fine zesty acidity…carrying smoothly through the finish.’

92/100
Nick Stock The Age Sydney Morning Herald Penguin Good Wine Guide 2011

Kono Sauvignon Blanc

Kono
Sauvignon Blanc 2010

‘The 2009 vintage earnt an impressive 90/100 in US Wine Spectator. This latest release is also on song. Light and silky with refreshing citrus, pineapple and paw-paw flavours.’

90/100
Dan Murphy’s Wine Panel

Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Wairau River
Sauvignon Blanc 2010

‘Wonderfully expressive, this wine offers an intense lifted nose of ripe tropical fruits and citrus. Refined, elegant and finely textured.’

92/100
Dan Murphy’s Wine Panel

The Ned Pinot Noir 2009

The Ned
Pinot Noir 2009

‘A terrifically approachable Pinot Noir illustrating exactly why this wine is such a success. Soft yes, simple no. Lashings of strawberry, cherry and spice.’

92/100
Dan Murphy’s Wine Panel

Essenze Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Essenze
Sauvignon Blanc 2010

‘There’s no denying the value for money of this wine; zesty, crunchy and bouncy with loads of lovely tropical fruits. It is just so clean and pure, it’s hard to resist.’

90/100
Dan Murphy’s Wine Panel

Lawson's Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Lawson’s Dry Hills
Sauvignon Blanc 2010

‘A benchmark style for the region, nicely balanced with good fruit purity. Ripe, pungent wine with typical Marlborough passionfruit, green capsicum and gooseberry.’

93/100
Dan Murphy’s Wine Panel

Cloudy Bay Chardonnay 2008

Cloudy Bay
Chardonnay 2008

‘This richly complex Chardonnay is a perennial favourite of our Wine Panel. It shows awe-inspiring intensity with an array of concentrated fruit, and nutty, wholemeal, pan-fried buttery savoury influences.’

95/100
Dan Murphy’s Wine Panel