Saint Clair Family Estate
Pioneer Block 3 43 Degrees Sauvignon Blanc 2024 750ml

Awards & Accolades

Gold Medal - National Wine Awards of Aotearoa, 2024

95 Points, 5 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit "A powerful expression, the enticing bouquet shows kiwifruit, kaffir lime, fresh fig, apricot, and jasmine aromas, leading to a intensely expressed palate delivering excellent weight and persistency. Wonderfully composed and expressed, offering fabulous drinking. At its best: now to 2028."

5 Stars, Cuisine Magazine - NZ & International Sauvignon Blanc Tasting 2025 "A lovely mix of herbal and thiol aromas on the nose in great intensity. That intensity is matched on the palate which has lots going on. Green gooseberries and fresh vibrant fruit flavours with a well-balanced acid line that is juicy, mouthwatering and long."

BLOCK: 3

Region: Marlborough’s lower Wairau region, east of Blenheim township.

Terroir: Soils: Even, fertile, deep, free-draining silt loam.

Topography: Flat and even. Approximately three metres above sea level.

Climate: Maritime. Slightly cooler than most of the Marlborough valley with a slower annual ripening period.

Regional characteristics and contribution to uniqueness of flavours: Rows are planted north-east to south-west at a 43 degree angle rather than the typical north to south. This leads to slightly greener characters in grapes on the south facing side and more tropical characters in grapes on the north facing side. The resulting wine is therefore multi-dimensional and complex. The site is cooler than some other areas of the valley and hence slower to ripen. The distinguishing flavours are crushed herbs (often associated with the coastal Awatere region) and vibrant tropical notes.

Viticulture: The fruit was sourced from a single vineyard owned by Mark and Kate O’Sullivan and is planted with four canes using vertical shoot positioning.

Winemaking: The fruit was pressed off as quickly as possible to minimise skin contact and juice deterioration following harvesting. After settling the juice was fermented using selected yeast in 100 per cent stainless steel at cool temperatures to retain fruit flavour and freshness. This batch was selected as a Pioneer Block wine due to its unique flavour, intensity and complexity.

Colour: Pale green.

Aroma: A pungent green spectrum of blackcurrant bud and fresh herbs with a hint of salt.

Palate: Fresh and vibrant with layers of blackcurrant and tomato leaf combined with notes of green capsicum, fleshy white peach and dried herbs. A mineral sea salt thread is evident on the lingering finish.

Ageing: Drinking beautifully now and best enjoyed over the next two years.

Wine analysis: Alcohol 13% v/v, Residual sugar 1.07 g/L, Acidity 7.6 g/litre, pH 3.26

Food match: An ideal match with freshly shucked natural oysters