Wine Advisor
Greywacke, Wild Sauvignon 2021
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Erin Larkin
The 2021 Wild Sauvignon is superb; the wine has all the tilt and lift of Sauvignon Blanc and all the richness from the maturation vessels, plus something extra from the low-yielding but excellent 2021 vintage. This is an exciting wine that is already so balanced and poised. Excellent. Drink it now (most will) or cellar it for up to 20 years, maybe more? 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
Reviewed by: Rebecca Gibb MW
The 2021 Sauvignon Wild screams class. It was a small vintage; poor flowering lead to small crops, and a subsequent dry summer guaranteed intense concentration. It is firm and intense, almost punching you between the eyes with its drive created through a combination of acid and phenolics, which provide structure and ensure this is one that will age gracefully. Aromatically, however, it's restrained and layered, offering everything from blackcurrant and nectarine to fennel. In summary, it's a wine that has all the right bits in all the right places and follows it up with length and persistence.
About the Producer
Greywacke is the Marlborough label of the Judd family and the name of New Zealand’s most abundant bedrock. These understated grey river stones are found throughout Marlborough’s rivers and alluvial vineyard soils. Established in 2009, Greywacke is truly a family affair the ethos is very much ‘keep it simple and hands-on’ with a small, dedicated team running the company from Greywacke HQ in the heart of Marlborough’s Omaka Valley. The fruit is sourced from mature vineyards in prime viticultural sites to optimise the potential afforded by Marlborough’s sunny South Pacific climate. All vineyards are sustainably managed with substantial and increasing proportions coming from organically farmed sites. Crop levels are restricted to enhance the concentration of flavour and a long, cool growing season produces fruit with incredible varietal intensity and bright, natural acidity. Meticulous canopy management regimes are employed to provide sufficient fruit exposure to deliver ripeness of flavour, textural richness and optimum acid balance. Greywacke is accredited with AMW status (Appellation Marlborough Wine), ensuring provenance, authenticity, and integrity. Each variety is grown and vinified using techniques aimed at achieving very specific wine styles, with a common objective of delivering a concentration of flavour and a harmonious balance of texture and acidity. Minimal intervention winemaking is adopted to create wines with personality and individuality, aiming for subtle, ripe, delicious-drinking styles. Wild (indigenous) yeast fermentations are used extensively to incorporate savouriness to the flavour profile and build on the structure and intensity of mouthfeel. The Greywacke range is primarily based on two varieties, sauvignon blanc, and pinot noir; the sauvignon being produced in two distinctly different styles. Limited releases of chardonnay, riesling, and pinot gris complement the line-up. Kevin’s signature vineyard photographs provide the distinctive identity of the Greywacke labels. Kevin Judd is one of Marlborough’s pioneer winemakers whose career is intrinsically linked with the global profile of New Zealand wine. He moved to New Zealand in 1983 and joined Selaks Wines. Subsequently, he became the founding winemaker at Cloudy Bay, a pivotal role during which he directed the company’s first 25 vintages. In 2009, he established Greywacke, his own family wine company, named after New Zealand’s prolific bedrock. Richelle was born and raised in Nelson. While working and traveling in Europe, Richelle developed a love for wine and upon returning home, she enrolled at University to study winemaking. Richelle joined the Greywacke team in May 2021, where she manages the winemaking programme, as well as traveling to the markets to conduct tastings and spread the word on all things Greywacke.
