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Greywacke Wild Sauvignon Blanc 2023

  • Emma Jenkins MW
    17.5 Points
Greywacke Wild Sauvignon Blanc 2023
  • Emma Jenkins MW
    17.5 Points
Greywacke Wild Sauvignon Blanc 2023
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Greywacke Wild Sauvignon Blanc 2023

SKU: GWWS202310 UCNZ
Sustainable
5-10 Years
Regular price $34.99 / bottle
Unit price
per 
Available to Order
1 bottle 6
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Kevin Judd sources fruit from Marlborough vineyards and ferments with wild yeasts for complexity.

Wild Sauvignon is fermented entirely with indigenous yeasts in old French barrels.

Wild yeast ferment in large old French barriques with extended lees contact; Aged 10 months on lees with regular batonnage.

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Greywacke Wild Sauvignon Blanc 2023

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Tasting Notes

“One of the country’s top reserve sauvignons, Greywacke's textural example counterpoises its ripe green plum fruit with vibrant lemon and lime acidity. A savoury herbal character is joined by a touch of smoke, spice and struck flint.” 50 Best bottles from NZ Wineries, Jo Burzynska, VIVA’s NZ WINE AWARDS

The Greywacke Wild Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is a distinctive, textural expression of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that highlights complexity and savoury depth over primary fruit. Sourced from select sites across the Brancott Valley, Renwick and Rapaura, fruit was gently pressed and fermented entirely with indigenous yeasts in old French oak barriques, many of which are neutral to avoid overt oak flavour. Around half of the barrels underwent malolactic fermentation, and the wine was matured on lees for an extended period to build weight and texture before bottling. Presented at 14.0% ABV, it opens with complex aromas of rock melon, lime zest, lemon curd and tangelo, woven with notes of toasted coconut, ginger and chalky minerality. The palate is dry, layered and richly textured, combining citrus and stone fruit with savoury herbs and a subtle creamy edge. A vibrant acid line and mineral backbone drive a long, pithy finish. More structured and food-friendly than classic Marlborough Sauvignon, this wine pairs superbly with shellfish, grilled fish, creamy risotto or soft cheeses and will develop further complexity with age.

Critic Scores

Openly aromatic with both classic Sauvignon Blanc fruit - grassy and herbal with a hint of cassis leaf - but
also a creamy/mealy impression allied to a stony note. Unusual combination of creamy and mineral with the merest hint of oak spice. Lovely texture from the lees and the oak, gently chewy, rich, still very youthful and fresh and with a salty aftertaste. This is a wine that you can enjoy now but which ages very well.

Vinification & Cultivation

Crafted only for our premium wines

Vineyard Cultivation

Greywacke was founded in 2009 by Kevin Judd, formerly the long-serving winemaker at Cloudy Bay and a pioneer of modern Marlborough. Wild Sauvignon is his barrel-fermented, more textural expression of the variety, sourced from mature Marlborough vineyards on the region's characteristic stony greywacke gravels. Judd selects parcels with the concentration to carry extended lees and oak handling. The 2023 Marlborough season was cooler and wetter, particularly affected by autumn rain, requiring careful picking decisions; well-drained sites and rigorous selection delivered ripe yet fresh fruit suited to this fuller, wild-fermented style with its grassy, herbal and cassis-leaf character.

Vinification

The fruit is whole-bunch pressed and fermented entirely with indigenous, wild yeasts in old, seasoned French oak barriques, giving a slower, more complex fermentation than a stainless-steel Sauvignon. The wine is then aged for around ten months on its lees, with regular bâtonnage (lees stirring) to build a creamy, mealy texture and subtle oak-spice complexity while keeping the varietal freshness. Malolactic fermentation is minimal, preserving the crisp, stony acidity. The extended lees contact and neutral oak lend gentle chewiness and a saline aftertaste, producing a Sauvignon designed both to drink young and to age.