Zephyr Sauvignon Blanc 2014
-
Parker
Robert
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Classic Dillon’s Point sub-regional characters; ethereal and lifted but with a taut structural savouriness. A year that accentuates the vibrant spectrum of our single vineyard with fruit energy and exquisite purity.
Pair with scallops, soft goat cheese, rock cod, or prosciutto.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Sauvignon Blanc opens with vibrant lemon and green apple scents plus underlying capsicum, pea pod and fresh herb hints. Medium-bodied with a pleasant creaminess to the texture, it has plenty of zippy citrus and herbal flavors on offer well into the long, refreshing finish.
Other Vintages
2022-
Suckling
James
- Decanter
-
Suckling
James
-
Suckling
James
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Wong
Wilfred -
Suckling
James
-
Parker
Robert
The Zephyr Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are both single vineyards that are certified sustainably farmed (currently in organic transition).
The name Zephyr characterizes the prevailing wind that complements Marlborough’s unique ripening season. Zephyr wines embrace the dynamic spirit of the Glover family and the lively aromatics of the estate vineyards. The Glover family vineyards, planted in 1985 alongside the meandering Opawa River, have inspired the family’s passion for wine.
In 1985, inspired by the pioneering efforts of other Marlborough mavericks, the Glover family converted their Dairy farm in Dillons Point to vine. Being a third generation farming family meant that there was a natural ability to see the potential in the land for vineyards and ultimately the production of world class wine. The family was well aboard what has been described the greatest wine experiment ever.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
An icon and leading region of New Zealand's distinctive style of Sauvignon blanc, Marlborough has a unique terroir, making it ideal for high quality grape production (of many varieties). Despite some common generalizations, which could be fairly justified given that Marlborough is responsible for 90% of New Zealand's Sauvignon blanc production, the wines from this region are actually anything but homogenous. At the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, the vineyards of Marlborough benefit from well-draining, stony soils, a dry, sunny climate and wide temperature fluctuations between day and night, a phenomenon that supports a perfect balance between berry ripeness and acidity.
The region’s king variety, Sauvignon blanc, is beloved for its pungent, aromatic character with notes of exotic tropical fruit, freshly cut grass and green bell pepper along with a refreshing streak of stony minerality. These wines are made in a wide range of styles, and winemakers take advantage of various clones, vineyard sites, fermentation styles, lees-stirring and aging regimens to differentiate their bottlings, one from one another.
Also produced successfully here are fruit-forward Pinot noirs (especially where soils are clay-rich), elegant Riesling, Pinot gris and Gewürztraminer.