Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Growers by Isabel Estate “Common Vine” Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Overview
100% Sauvignon Blanc from Isabel Estate, one of Marlborough’s pioneering producers. This single-vineyard bottling comes from the Waihopai Valley — a subregion known for being more mineral-driven and restrained than the punchy, tropical-forward styles of the neighboring Wairau and Awatere Valleys. A showcase of precision and purity.

Aromas & Flavors
Zesty citrus, lime peel, and gooseberry meet tropical notes of passionfruit and pineapple, layered with fresh herbs and a subtle stony edge. A vivid expression that balances fruit intensity with chalky minerality.

Mouthfeel
Crisp, energetic acidity cuts through with sharp precision. Light to medium-bodied, refreshingly clean, with a saline, mineral-tinged finish that lingers brightly.

Winemaking Notes
Cold fermentation in stainless steel to lock in aromatics, followed by lees contact for added textural complexity without compromising freshness.

Food Pairing
Excellent with oysters, green-lipped mussels, ceviche, and goat cheese. Also shines with grilled asparagus, sushi, or a simple tomato-and-basil salad.

Verdict
A brilliant single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc that highlights Waihopai Valley’s distinctive terroir — mineral, sharp, and refreshingly pure. More refined than fruit-bomb styles, yet every bit as compelling. Cheers! — 2 months ago

Michael Piaker

9.2

16 November 2018. Henry's Wine & Spirit, Brooklyn, NY. — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.1

Less than 5 miles up Waihopai Valley Rd from the GCSB's Waihopai Listening Station, and thus the name Spy Valley. If these vines could talk the NSA would know what they said.

Lime and pepper dominate, in the form of juice, zest, jalapeño, and bell. A secondary herbaceousness yields mostly grass and peach skin. Crisp and racy, as expected, but the fruit is more concentrated than usual for a NZSB.

— 9 years ago

Pat Mead

9.0

2023 Vintage. Crisp, fruity and delicious with grilled chicken and guacamole. Lime and tropical undertones! Will buy again! — 4 months ago

Dave david

9.1

A bit pink — 5 years ago

Julia Bankova

10

Marlborough's Waihopai and Awatere valleys, New Zealand, 2017. Gooseberry and passion fruit with herbal note and long finish. — 8 years ago

Lisa Noyes

9.5

Very smooth and tart tropical notes. Love. Ate with Aurelio's sausage pizza ❤️ — 10 years ago

Max Conrad

9.1

Crowd pleasing blowsy PG. Oily, heady, rose, apple and white grape aromas. Dry but correct touch of sweetness. The wine is matching goats cheese and dill beautifully, great value @£8.50 — 5 years ago

Peter Coulthard

9.5

Waitrose. Absolutely lovely. Bold SB flavours, but still with a zesty limey edge to it. — 5 years ago

Victoria Coleman

9.7

Light and delicious — 8 years ago