• Dry style
• Lime zest
• Blackcurrants
• Passionfruit & gooseberry

"Flavoursome, punchy Sauvignon Blanc with gooseberry, green capsicum, tomato leaf, passionfruit and a suggestion of oyster shell-mineral character. A vibrant, high-energy wine with assertive acidity driving a lengthy finish" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Mar 2020

The 2019 Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc has lifted aromatics of fresh garden peas and blackcurrants mingled with herbs such as coriander. On the palate are concentrated flavours of jalapeño and lemongrass, with a punchy finish of lime zest and a hint of gunflint. A key point of interest in this wine is the chalky texture reminiscent of wet river stones.

Wines crafted in the Villa Maria Single Vineyard range epitomize the varietal and the vintage as well as the uniqueness of the vineyard site. The picturesque Taylors Pass Vineyard is located on the northern bank

of the Awatere River in southern Marlborough. The average vine age is between13-18 years-old. Sheltered from prevailing cool easterly winds, each terrace of the vineyard has varying soil types, stony gravels are nearest the river, whereas the mid-terrace has silt over gravels and the highest terrace is deeper silt over clay-papa base. This patchwork of soil types provides the vineyard with dramatically variable ripening patterns, therefore producing a "fruit salad" of pungent Sauvignon Blanc flavours to select from.

Fruit set in the cool spring weather was lower than usual, resulting in the development of open bunches with small flavourful berries. From January onwards, Marlborough experienced a summer of the century, with a spell of long hot dry weather with moderately cool nights providing the perfect environment to ensure physiological and flavour ripeness whilst retaining freshness.