• Dry style
• Blackcurrant
• Rosemary
• Subtle acidity

"2022 was a challenging Marlborough vintage, producing varying results depending on whether winemakers chose to avoid threatening rain and pick early, or ride out the weather and pick later. Villa Maria got it right with this wine. A richly textured sauvignon blanc with passionfruit, guava, lime, red capsicum and lemongrass flavours. Intense, with a delicious backbone of mouth-watering acidity. A flagship wine that lives up to its exalted status" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Nov 2022

"Gorgeously detailed and precise, showing passionfruit, kaffir lime, jalapeno and sweet basil aromas on the nose, followed by an impressively concentrated palate delivering excellent fruit purity and vibrancy. Delicious and stylish at the same time. At its best: now to 2027" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Sep 2021

"Fruity and layered, varietal and herbaceous, complex and spicy, salty and mineral. Aromas and flavours of fresh sage and tropical fruits, red apple, sweet lemon and fresh golden kiwifruit. Dry, crisp, salivating and complex with flavours that reflect the bouquet, a core of fruit contrasted by acidity then mineral flavours of wet stones and sea air. Balanced, well made, lengthy and ready. Step it up a notch and explore a fine example of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Best drinking from late 2021 through 2025+" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Aug 2021

A classic representation of Sauvignon Blanc from the Wairau Valley in Marlborough, bursting with aromatic tropical fruit characters found in this warmer sub-region. This wine displays powerful aromas of blackcurrant, passionfruit and ripe rock-melon. The palate has an enticing array of ripe citrus fruits mixed with pungent herbs such as fresh rosemary, finishing with subtle acidity.

The later ripening of the Laugesson vineyard in the upper Waihopai Valley plays a key part of this wine contributing the pungent ripe passionfruit aroma's and tropical fruit flavours, whereas the Hocquard vineyard in the Lower Wairau Valley adds freshness and greener thiols, such as boxwood.

Summer was dry and mild with Marlborough’s signature high sunshine hours and cool nights delivering fruit in the best possible condition. The early autumn season provided Marlborough with very stable weather conditions therefore fruit was able to reach optimum physiological and flavour ripeness. The fruit was impeccably clean and the lower yields meant that the grapes packed a punch in flavour and concentration.

Fermented with Aromatic enhancing yeast strains, 100% stainless steel fermentation at cool temperatures to enhance tropical fruit notes. Carefully monitored 1-2 months on yeast lees to build texture and palate weight.