Older Vintages

Wine Spectator has reviewed the 2016 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc with a lovely review of this quintessential Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc "Vivid, with fresh, grassy green notes to complement the juicy lemon-lime core, accented by a hint of pineapple."

New Zealand's number one most poured wine by the glass in the USA and 15th equal most poured wine by the glass across all countries.

This sassy New Zealand sauvignon blanc over-delivers. It has bright tropical fruit, with notes of grapefruit, lemon and a hint of peach. It finishes crisp, and it’s knockout. 

Pear. peach and apricot flavors are spicy and smooth, with a juicy finish and plenty of intensity, finishing with notes of Meyer lemon zest. 89/100

Aromatic sauvignon blanc in a typical Awatere style with crisp, grassy, green capsicum and wet stone/mineral flavours. Quite Sancerre-like. Lovely purity and impressive power. An ethereal texture and lengthy finish.

This shows the sunny opulence of the vintage, brimming with tropical- and stone-fruit notes. Guava and nectarine flavors meet ample weight on the palate, balanced by a slightly chalky finish.

91 POINTS: WHITEHAVEN MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2014

"A cool, zesty sauvignon, this starts out with asparagus scents, then reveals more lemongrass and pear nectar underneath.  It's smoky and pale, a firm white that's versatile with food.."

WINE & SPIRITS MAGAZINE (Oct 2015 edition) 

'Dedicated to the memory of founder Greg White, the 2013 vintage (4 ½ Stars) is full-bodied, rich and sweet-fruited, with concentrated, ripe tropical-fruit flavours, finely balanced acidity, a touch of bottle-aged complexity, and a dry (3.7 grams/litre of residual sugar), long finish. Drink now to 2015’ 
4.5 STARS, Michael Cooper Buyer's Guide to NZ Wines 2015

'Dedicated to the memory of founder Greg White, the 2013 vintage (4 Stars) is full-bodied, rich and sweet-fruited, with concentrated, ripe tropical-fruit flavours, finely balanced acidity, a touch of bottle-aged complexity, and a dry (3.7 grams/litre of residual sugar), long finish. Drink now to 2015'
4 STARS, Michael Cooper Buyer's Guide to NZ Wines 2015

This is a taut, elegant, dry Pinot Gris with white stonefruit and floral flavours on a fresh, fine-textured palate. 18.5/20 5 stars

'The 2013 vintage (4 Stars) was handled in an even split of tanks and large oak cuves, and made in a medium-dry style (14 grams/litre of residual sugar). Full-bodied and fresh, it is finely balanced, with strongly varietal, lychee, pear and spice flavours, a hint of ginger, some complexity and good concentration. Delicious drinking now onwards'
4 STARS, Michael Cooper Buyer's Guide to NZ Wines 2015

Even, pale strawberry-pink colour with some depth, lighter on the rim. The nose is fresh with very intense and tightly concentrated aromas of strawberries, cranberries and pomegranate, entwined with soft red florals and notes of confectionary, and has a fine, firm core of mouthwatering minerals. Dryish to taste and medium-bodied, the palate features a bright, lively and vibrant heart of strawberry fruit along with aromatic red florals, and subtle notes of cranberries and pomegranate, lifted by herbal and confectionary elements. The mouthfeel combines fruit richness and lusciousness with thirst-quenching acidity, and the wine flows with plenty of energy and tension along a smooth line, leading to a bright, aromatic, sustained finish of strawberries and confectionary. This is a refreshing, lively, but lusciously fruited dryish rosé with strawberry, floral and confectionary flavours. Serve as an aperitif, with canapes and antipasto over the next 2 years. Pinot Noir fruit given 2-3 hours skin contact and cool-fermented to 13.0% alc. and 3.8 g/L RS. 18.5/20 Dec 2016 RRP $22.90

4.5/5 stars

A delectable dry style; fragrant aromas of nectarine, rockmelon, raspberry coulis and strawberry lead to a vibrant palate that is filled with pristine fruit flavours, wonderfully supported by fine texture and refreshing acidity. This is light and lively, and flavoursome at the same time, and finishes with persistent tasty flavours. At its best: now to 2018. 

'Whitehaven Marlborough Pinot Rosé 2015

Under Sue White’s leadership and with 22 vintages under its belt, Whitehaven is one of Marlborough’s stalwart producers.  Things are gearing up with a new cellar door opened just a few months ago, and revitalised website and presence.  There is the constant search for improvement in technique and style.  Last year, I was told there was the conscious decision to lighten the style of the rosé in deference to the company’s largest customer of the wine, who desired a ‘more Provencal’ look and dryness.  Winemaker Sam Smail and his team continue the fine-tuning with the 2015 Pinot Rosé which is reviewed here.  www.whitehaven.co.nz

Whitehaven Marlborough Pinot Rosé 2015  ««««

Soft, even, pale candy floss pink with youthful purple hues.  The nose is elegant and refined in expression with finely concentrated aromas of strawberries and redcurrants entwined with lifted fermentation esters, red florals, and delicate confectionary elements.  Thirst-quenching herbal and mineral nuances emerge in the glass.  Dry to taste and medium-bodied, elegantly concentrated flavours of strawberries, redcurrants and pomegranate are melded with delicate herbal and lifted floral and confectionary notes.  The mouthfeel is mouthwatering with a fine –textured phenolic thread and refreshing lacy acidity guiding the wine,  The palate leads to a long, aromatic, dry finish with fruit pastille and herb nuances.  This is an elegant and finely concentrated, thirst-quenching, dry rosé with delicate flavours and textures.  Serve as an aperitif and with antipasto over the next 2 years.  Pinot Noir fruit crushed and destemmed, given 2-3 hours skin contact and cold-fermented in tank to 13.0% alc. and 4.5 g/L RS.  17.5/20  Aug 2015  RRP $22.90'

RAYMOND CHAN

'Elegant and refreshing, this tasty rose shows lifted aromas of peach, red apple, raspberry and floral on the nose. The palate is juicy, silky and light on its feet, and offers lovely bright fruit flavours, finishing long and succulent. At its best: now to 2017. $23.00. www.whitehaven.co.nz. Aug 2015.'

SAM KIM - WINE ORBIT

This is a taut, elegant, dry Pinot Gris with white stonefruit and floral flavours on a fresh, fine-textured palate. 18.5/20 5 stars.

'Delicious from the start, the 2013 vintage (4 Stars) is a finely poised wine, blended from Riesling (87 per cent), picked with an 80–85 per cent botrytis infection, and Viognier (13 per cent). It has lovely late-harvest fruit characters and peachy, honeyed flavours, sweet (170 grams/litre of residual sugar) and rich'
4 STARS, Michael Cooper Buyer's Guide to NZ Wines 2015