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The Society's Exhibition Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020

4.181818000 star rating 11 Reviews
Marlborough pioneer Jane Hunter and the region’s second superb vintage in a row conspired to push this wine to a resounding victory in our 2021 Wine Champions tastings. Noted for its restraint (at least two buyers remarked that they’d noted this word down when tasting it), this elegant, mineral, citrusy, crisp New Zealand sauvignon is a nod in style to the grape's French heartlands, but with an unmistakably Kiwi accent. Smart, focused, bright and beautifully balanced.
is no longer available
Code: NZ12101

Wine characteristics

  • White Wine
  • 2 - Dry
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • 13% Alcohol
  • no oak influence
  • Screwcap
Play Video
Pierre Mansour, our Director of Wine, tells us about this popular wine from Marlborough pioneer Jane Hunter. Video transcript

Video transcript

One of the most popular white wine styles, Marlborough sauvignon blanc, firmly put New Zealand on the world wine map. Our Exhibition bottling is made for us by Jane Hunter, one of the original pioneers who first saw the potential of this wonderful vineyard site on the northern tip of the South Island in New Zealand. It’s a really expressive wine, whistle clean, lots of fruit, tropical fruit here. Our Exhibition wine, though, has a little bit more restraint, elegance, and lovely dry mouthwatering finish. It’s also certified as a vegan-friendly wine. You can see why this style of wine is such a popular drink.

New Zealand

Still a baby when compared with other regions, New Zealand has quickly earned a reputation for top-quality wine. New Zealand might be a relative newcomer to the wine world (in 1960, the country had fewer than 400 hectares of vine) but its rise to pre-eminence is extraordinary. The precise, pure flavour of its wines has captured the attention of wine drinkers; Society sales certainly reflect this.

The country’s two islands cover a vast area from north to south (it is often quoted in wine books that if New Zealand was in the northern hemisphere, the country would stretch from North Africa to Paris). The maritime climate is influenced by the strong prevailing winds of the Pacific Ocean and the striking mountainous terrain. These factors give the islands a wide range of growing conditions; broadly speaking, the regions of the North Island tend to be warmer than the cooler South Island.

The cool New Zealand climate offers real opportunity for aromatic varieties like sauvignon blanc,...
Still a baby when compared with other regions, New Zealand has quickly earned a reputation for top-quality wine. New Zealand might be a relative newcomer to the wine world (in 1960, the country had fewer than 400 hectares of vine) but its rise to pre-eminence is extraordinary. The precise, pure flavour of its wines has captured the attention of wine drinkers; Society sales certainly reflect this.

The country’s two islands cover a vast area from north to south (it is often quoted in wine books that if New Zealand was in the northern hemisphere, the country would stretch from North Africa to Paris). The maritime climate is influenced by the strong prevailing winds of the Pacific Ocean and the striking mountainous terrain. These factors give the islands a wide range of growing conditions; broadly speaking, the regions of the North Island tend to be warmer than the cooler South Island.

The cool New Zealand climate offers real opportunity for aromatic varieties like sauvignon blanc, riesling, pinot gris and gewurztraminer . Of the latter three, young plantings mean many styles rely more on sugar than fruit, which we avoid buying. But the very best share the intensity and palate weight of great Alsace examples with vibrant, lifted flavours. South Island’s Marlborough region is the benchmark setter for the former, and there are many pungently aromatic sauvignons that are stunning. Look out, too, for some of the exciting sub-regional wines – the Awatere is Marlborough’s coolest valley, now making really attractive, delicate and grassy wines, and Nelson across the hills is yielding superb wines from quality conscious producers like Neudorf.

The first sauvignon blanc vines were planted in Marlborough around 30 years ago, when most farmers were raising cattle or growing fruit. The wines have since taken the world by storm. Farms have been replaced by vineyards, and today, chardonnay and pinot also flourish in Marlborough’s cool climate. The choice is sensational, so is the consistency in quality. However, Marlborough is not only about sauvignon blanc and there are crisp, juicy chardonnays and ripe but balanced pinot noirs of excellence.

Further south is Central Otago, in the centre of the island. Pinot noir is something of a speciality here, though on the wrong site it can have difficulty reaching full maturity in this continental climate. The best seasons produce the country’s most dazzling examples of the grape, full-flavoured and superbly pure, and the greatest wines of this scenic region are in high demand around the world

The north island also boasts excellent wine regions. North of the city of Auckland there is the Bay of Islands where a unique microclimate helps winemakers produce some wonderful reds, and the Brajkovich family’s Kumeu River Estate, specialising in rich but elegant chardonnay, can be found just north-west of New Zealand's biggest city. Waiheke Island, just off the coast close to Auckland, also produces some excellent wines.

Hawkes Bay on the east coast of the North Island covers an extensive area of rolling hills, a sweep of coastline and the sharply dominant Te Mata Peak. The warm climate successfully ripens red grape varieties, the very best grown in the gravelly alluvial soils of the Gimblett Gravels appellation. Syrah is now adding its name to the roll call of successful varieties like cabernet and merlot. Chardonnay is well established here too, and the area makes some of New Zealand’s fullest and ripest examples.

Close to Wellington at the southern tip of the North Island is Martinborough, arguably New Zealand’s most exciting area for pinot noir. The long growing season is particularly suitable to the slow, gradual ripening that this Burgundian grape so enjoys.
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Hunter's Wines

Jane Hunter, OBE is a charismatic ambassador for New Zealand wines, possessing in abundance the zestful, feisty and lively character of her country’s sauvignons. When Jane and her late husband, Ernie planted their first vines in the picturesque Wairau Valley in Marlborough in 1979 the potential of the area for producing world-class wines was unknown. However in the 1980s after the release of early vintages their wines started winning international awards, previously unheard of for New Zealand wines. Then tragically, only a few years into their venture, Ernie was killed in a road accident. From 1987 Jane became sole owner, viticulturalist and managing director of Hunter’s Wines. She carried on developing the business, despite challenging circumstances, fulfilling and even exceeding the original dream and even finding time to record her experiences in her book ‘Growing a Legacy’.
Hunter’s consistently delivers one of Marlborough’s very best sauvignons year after year. The immaculately-tended vines are amongst the oldest in the region, which is the secret to the wine's intense style. Although other grape varieties are planted including riesling, pinot gris, gewürztraminer and pinot noir Hunter’s Sauvignon Blanc undoubtedly remains the best known wine of the estate, expressing the depth and complexity of the grape. Stoneburn is the second label of the estate and delivers excellent value for money. We could think of no better source for our Exhibition Marlborough sauvignon than...
Jane Hunter, OBE is a charismatic ambassador for New Zealand wines, possessing in abundance the zestful, feisty and lively character of her country’s sauvignons. When Jane and her late husband, Ernie planted their first vines in the picturesque Wairau Valley in Marlborough in 1979 the potential of the area for producing world-class wines was unknown. However in the 1980s after the release of early vintages their wines started winning international awards, previously unheard of for New Zealand wines. Then tragically, only a few years into their venture, Ernie was killed in a road accident. From 1987 Jane became sole owner, viticulturalist and managing director of Hunter’s Wines. She carried on developing the business, despite challenging circumstances, fulfilling and even exceeding the original dream and even finding time to record her experiences in her book ‘Growing a Legacy’.
Hunter’s consistently delivers one of Marlborough’s very best sauvignons year after year. The immaculately-tended vines are amongst the oldest in the region, which is the secret to the wine's intense style. Although other grape varieties are planted including riesling, pinot gris, gewürztraminer and pinot noir Hunter’s Sauvignon Blanc undoubtedly remains the best known wine of the estate, expressing the depth and complexity of the grape. Stoneburn is the second label of the estate and delivers excellent value for money. We could think of no better source for our Exhibition Marlborough sauvignon than Jane Hunter. Her stylish yet ripe-tasting sauvignon with pristine aroma and a zesty, long finish is a welcome addition to The Society's flagship range.
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2018 vintage reviews

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