Collection: Marlborough
5 STARS: Michael Cooper
93 POINTS: Bob Campbell MW
"Bright, light lemon/green, the 2023 vintage is fresh and medium-bodied, with strong, ripe, tropical fruit flavours, showing considerable complexity, and a dry (0.8 grams/litre of residual sugar) finish. Crisp and savoury, it should be at its best mid-2024+."
- Michael Cooper
"Rich, weighty and tangy with a pleasing texture and flavours that suggest green capsicum, lime juice, cut grass and passionfruit supported by assertive acidity which helps drive a lengthy, drying finish."
- Bob Campbell MW
A restrained and classy biodynamic Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough. This most subtle expression of a Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc gives a true reflection of the approach of the Seresin Estate. It's a delightful pale green in the glass with a fresh and zesty nose of gooseberry and sherbet leading onto a tingling palate which is clean, pure and flawless. There's actually a small amount of Semillon in here which helps give an extra bit of roundedness to the structure.
ABV: 12.5%
90 POINTS: Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous
Certified organic and biodynamically grown Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Dense, ripe notes of pear and quince combine beautifully with aromas of spice and ginger. The palate is lush, rich and textural, which has been aided by partial barrel fermentation in French oak barrels. A dry wine that finishes with vibrant acidity.
"The dry 2023 Pinot Gris is full, round and succulent with attractive pear, apple and creamy characters. It's soft and juicy, but it has a layer of both floral and savory complexity, likely down to a portion of wild-fermented fruit and another fermented in 'neutral' French barrels. There's tension and texture, with phenolics and acidity combining to create drive."
- Rebecca Gibb MW
ABV: 13%
93 POINTS: Cam Douglas MS
"Aromas and flavours of fresh red cherry and cranberry, there's a fine mineral quality as well as a floral note with clay and stone then rose. Baking spices of vanilla and a whisper of cinnamon add complexity and mystery. Dry, floral, fruity and textured as the wine touches the palate. There's a youthful taut quality emphasizing the acidity and tannins, but these will ease as the wine ages. Flavours of fruits and flowers, barrel spices and textures combine to showcase a wine that is tasty and youthful."
- Cam Douglas MS
The bouquet is expressed with dark red cherry, plum along with vanilla and spice. The palate has dark red and dark cherry fruit flavours on the palate. The gentle influence of French oak melds into the wine and the wine is very drinkable.
ABV: 13.7%
92 POINTS: Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review
"Cloudy amber-orange. An enveloping nose of honey with ripe apple, blood orange and pithy pink grapefruit. A hint of thyme and something savoury underneath. Yet to unfurl fully despite being perfumed. Funky and savoury reduction appears on the palate alongside the intense flavours of dried cranberry, raisin, fig and pear. Chewy tannins lend structure to the large-scaled, weighty palate which is more reliant on phenolics than acidity. Impressive concentration and a long, spicy, earthy finish. Despite the soft acidity, this will likely keep and develop for a few years without issue."
- Stephen Wong MW
Seresin winemaker Tamra Washington gets to really experiment with the Beautiful Chaos range. A blend of Pinot Gris and Riesling, all from the biodynamic Seresin vineyard, it was fermented on skins like an ‘orange’ or amber wine for 21-26 days; one portion in amphora and another in stainless steel, before being basket-pressed into old oak barrels to age for three months, during which the softening malolactic fermentation occurred naturally.
ABV: 12.5%
A wine of two tales. Incredibly dense and inky to the eye, yet graceful and refined on the palate. A charming wine, brimming with ripe boysenberry aromas, and flavours of cocoa and graphite.
Certified organic and biodynamically grown. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
ABV: 13%
Fantastic organic Blanc de Blancs from an award winning New Zealand Vineyard. The nose shows lovely bready and biscuity characters with an underlying toasty character. The palate is rich in peach fruit with ripe citrus flavours. There is a delicate creaminess ending with a long elegant dry finish.
ABV: 12.5%
2022 Listener Best Buy White Wine: Michael Cooper
"The 2022 Chardonnay is round, creamy and succulent. Biodynamically grown, hand harvested and whole bunch pressed, there's a sense of purity and ease. It fills the mouth Omaka Valley Marlborough Search for, with concentrated fruit and leaves behind a fine-grained texture that coats the cheeks. Wild fermented and aged in French oak and puncheons for six months, the oak influence is subtle, with pastry-like lees characters complementing the ripe apple-like fruit flavors. Mellow and pleasurable, ready to drink from release. The organic and biodynamic wine venture of filmmaker Michael Seresin has long provided textural, restrained expressions of Marlborough. The whites are typically nuanced and layered thanks to wild fermentation in old barrels and extended lees time. The Pinot Noirs, on the richer soils of Marlborough's Omaka Valley, tend to offer a denser, more structured approach to the region's Pinot Noirs. There’s also an experimental/lo-fi label within the portfolio, Beautiful Chaos, which has yet to convince me that I ought to champion natural wines."
- 92 Points: Vinous Media
A refined, complete expression of Chardonnay that exudes elegance and poise. The nose is lifted with notes of fleshy stone fruits laced with brioche, and the palate is layered, creamy and complex, yet still elegant, and is framed with focused acidity.
A tantalising, complete expression of Chardonnay that brings together both savoury structure, elegance and depth of concentration. Considered picking and use of oak has created a wine that leans towards the more complex, savoury styles of Chardonnay. Lifted mealy, flinty notes on the nose, develop into a smoky complex flavours on the palate. The wine remains poised with a slaty, mineral acidity on the finish and is bone dry.
ABV: 13%
A truly charming, graceful yet powerful Rosé that has been crafted to wholly represent a small, special plot of Pinot Noir within the Raupo vineyard. Highly aromatic, brimming with classic Pinot Noir Rosé notes of wild berry fruits, vanilla and florals. Exudes elegance and purity on the palate, yet with many dimensions, textures and a tension that gives great length; aided by a dry finish and refreshing acidity that completes the wine.
ABV: 13%
94 POINTS: Sam Kim - The Wine Orbit
94 POINTS: Bob Campbell MW
93 POINTS: Decanter Magazine
93 POINTS: James Suckling
Organic & BioGro NZ Certified.
"A beautifully styled Sauvignon, showing Granny Smith apple, nectarine, lime peel and fig characters on the nose. The palate displays pristine fruit flavours with refined texture and zesty acidity, finishing lingering and mouth-watering. Wonderfully expressive and harmonious with true varietal intensity and vibrancy. At its best: now to 2029."
- Sam Kim - The Wine Orbit
"A more Sancerre-like sauvignon blanc with sliced green apples, spiced pears, crushed stones and some gooseberries. Medium to full body. Round mouth-feel and steely acidity. From organically grown grapes."
- James Suckling
The 2022 release shows distinctive Awatere characters of guava, white currant, and elderflower coupled with lovely ripe passionfruit & tropical notes and hints of basil and lime from the Wairau fruit. These follow through to the palate – which is fine and soft with loads of fleshy fruit balanced by a ripe, juicy acidity and lingering minerality. There is real fruit weight here and that is complimented by lovely texture from the time on lees and the barrel parcels – It is utterly delicious!
ABV: 13.5%
95 POINTS: Halliday Wine Companion Australia
“2023 was a growing season of two halves. Initially, spring was incredibly wet and warm, which had us watching the disease pressure in the vineyard very closely. Then suddenly the rain disappeared, and summer arrived in December, allowing us all to relax and enjoy the rest of summer watching the grapes ripen as they needed to. It was a relief! ”
- Winemaker William Hoare
This wine shows great pinosity. On the nose it’s full of dark wild berries, cocoa and damsel plum. The palate is more delicate, with dark fruit bolstered by a supportive but not dominating core of tannin, with a very endearing soft, rich mouth feel. A wine to savour.
This is a classic kiwi success story, a winery many have never hear of but you really do need to check them out. Novum is the new label for William Hoare (ex-Fromm) and Rachel Jackson-Hoare in Marlborough utilizing fruit from family and closely associated vineyards. Both families have long histories in the area and William (Will) knows these vineyards like the back of his hand. Tiny volumes, amazing quality.
ABV: 13.5%
92 POINTS: Cameron Douglas MS
A classy Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc displaying a vibrant nose with bright aromas of ripe tropical and stone fruit characters. The palate is subtle, yet generous and textural, with delicate notes of lemon blossom and passionfruit. The finish is refreshing, crisp and dry.
"Produced by the team that makes Seresin wines this example showcases aromas and flavours of fresh Meyer lemon and white peach, white flowers and a light stony mineral quality framed with soft fresh herbs and apple flesh. Salivating, crisp, refreshing, fruity, varietal and tasty. Flavours reflect the bouquet with a laser-beam acid line and contrasting ripe fruit flavours. Well made and ready to drink from late 2022 through 2026"
- Cameron Douglas MS
ABV: 12.5%