Villa Maria
Reserve Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Wairau Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
Usually I don’t like SB, but by this age this all the stinky std smell had gone(no buxus, no cat litter sent), but it is traded for a much fuller matured taste. Ripe tropical fruits, still lots of fresh acids. Light caramel touch in the post taste. So, yes, perhaps no longer a typical mineral, fresh an flowery SB. I can do mineral, but the buxus lightness is not my cup of tea. So lots of videos for this 11 years old SB. Had it wit a green asparagus frittata, great combo.
Usually I don’t like SB, but by this age this all the stinky std smell had gone(no buxus, no cat litter sent), but it is traded for a much fuller matured taste. Ripe tropical fruits, still lots of fresh acids. Light caramel touch in the post taste. So, yes, perhaps no longer a typical mineral, fresh an flowery SB. I can do mineral, but the buxus lightness is not my cup of tea. So lots of videos for this 11 years old SB. Had it wit a green asparagus frittata, great combo.
May 4th, 2020Extreem tasty SB. Grassy, mineral, full of flavours. No buxus flavours. Finaly a SB that I really like.
Extreem tasty SB. Grassy, mineral, full of flavours. No buxus flavours. Finaly a SB that I really like.
Jun 17th, 2018
Lemon yellow with green-2 Fresh and comfortable aroma including herbaceous and passion fruits. Wood. minerals. Almond?
Fruitiness M Sweetness M Acidity M++ No Bitterness Body M Finish M 12.5%
Fresh Dry Juicy. It has fineness, one more year later, much better, since acidity will be calm. Villa Maria Reserve Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc 24 @1300, Simon, 261020-261023
Lemon yellow with green-2 Fresh and comfortable aroma including herbaceous and passion fruits. Wood. minerals. Almond?
Fruitiness M Sweetness M Acidity M++ No Bitterness Body M Finish M 12.5%
Fresh Dry Juicy. It has fineness, one more year later, much better, since acidity will be calm. Villa Maria Reserve Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc 24 @1300, Simon, 261020-261023
Villa Maria Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Wairau Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Overview
A serious, elevated expression of 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Wairau Valley, enhanced by extended lees contact (over six months), delivering layered texture, added complexity, and greater structural depth while preserving freshness.
Aromas & Flavors
Ripe citrus, white peach, passion fruit skin, crushed herbs, and subtle flinty tones lead the nose. The palate unfolds with layered citrus oils, stone fruit, gentle saline minerality, and savory nuance, showing depth beyond simple fruit expression.
Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with beautiful roundness and creamy texture from lees aging, yet still driven by precise acidity. The wine carries weight without heaviness, finishing long, clean, and polished.
Food Pairings
Grilled scallops or prawns. Roasted chicken with lemon and herbs. Creamy risotto with spring vegetables. Seared halibut. Aged chèvre or Alpine-style cheeses.
Verdict
A refined, terroir-driven Sauvignon Blanc that balances complexity, texture, and freshness seamlessly. This is a serious step up from entry-level Marlborough, sophisticated, structured, and highly satisfying.
Did You Know?
The Wairau Valley is Marlborough’s original and most diverse subregion, where gravelly riverbed soils and cooling maritime influence create wines with both concentration and finesse, ideal for crafting premium, age-worthy Sauvignon Blanc expressions.
🍷 Personal Pick
This hits my sweet spot: texture, tension, and layered complexity without sacrificing brightness. A Sauvignon Blanc for Burgundy lovers who still crave freshness.
Villa Maria Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Wairau Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Overview
A serious, elevated expression of 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Wairau Valley, enhanced by extended lees contact (over six months), delivering layered texture, added complexity, and greater structural depth while preserving freshness.
Aromas & Flavors
Ripe citrus, white peach, passion fruit skin, crushed herbs, and subtle flinty tones lead the nose. The palate unfolds with layered citrus oils, stone fruit, gentle saline minerality, and savory nuance, showing depth beyond simple fruit expression.
Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with beautiful roundness and creamy texture from lees aging, yet still driven by precise acidity. The wine carries weight without heaviness, finishing long, clean, and polished.
Food Pairings
Grilled scallops or prawns. Roasted chicken with lemon and herbs. Creamy risotto with spring vegetables. Seared halibut. Aged chèvre or Alpine-style cheeses.
Verdict
A refined, terroir-driven Sauvignon Blanc that balances complexity, texture, and freshness seamlessly. This is a serious step up from entry-level Marlborough, sophisticated, structured, and highly satisfying.
Did You Know?
The Wairau Valley is Marlborough’s original and most diverse subregion, where gravelly riverbed soils and cooling maritime influence create wines with both concentration and finesse, ideal for crafting premium, age-worthy Sauvignon Blanc expressions.
🍷 Personal Pick
This hits my sweet spot: texture, tension, and layered complexity without sacrificing brightness. A Sauvignon Blanc for Burgundy lovers who still crave freshness.
Pale lemon color.
Aromas of green bell pepper, lime, wet stone, fresh cut grass.
Dry. Flavors of lime, gooseberry, green bell pepper, wet stone, grass. Good.
Complexity: 3/5
Intensity: 4/5
Balance: 5/5
Finish: 4/5
Pale lemon color.
Aromas of green bell pepper, lime, wet stone, fresh cut grass.
Dry. Flavors of lime, gooseberry, green bell pepper, wet stone, grass. Good.
Complexity: 3/5
Intensity: 4/5
Balance: 5/5
Finish: 4/5
Lovely, easy going white. Drank on a hot day and it slipped down a little too easy.
Lovely, easy going white. Drank on a hot day and it slipped down a little too easy.
May 20th, 2022
Nice fruit undertones - passion fruit, mango. Not quite as bright as I’d like. Can turn a bit waxy with creamy sauces, but excellent on its own. Medium grassy/ herby by NZ sauv blanc standards. Decent.
Nice fruit undertones - passion fruit, mango. Not quite as bright as I’d like. Can turn a bit waxy with creamy sauces, but excellent on its own. Medium grassy/ herby by NZ sauv blanc standards. Decent.
Aug 2nd, 2021