Year after year Saint Clair strives to produce world-class wines that exceed our customers’ every expectation, so receiving fantastic reviews from respected sources means a great deal.
“Showing obvious potential, this deeply coloured red has a fragrant, spicy bouquet”. Winestate rates the 2020 Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Gimblett Gravels Merlot with a 5-star review, highlighting the wine’s “concentrated blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, fresh acidity, and excellent ripeness and complexity”. The Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District® is a world-renowned area in the Hawke’s Bay region. The soils are vigour moderating free draining gravel and lie on a flat even site with a gradual slope. The site is very sheltered and warmer than the Marlborough region, serving ideal ripening conditions for achieving full aromatic profiles for our Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Gimblett Gravels Merlot.
Another brilliant 5 Star rating went to the 2021 Saint Clair Pioneer Block 5 Bull Block Grüner Veltliner, with comments “Already delicious, this strongly varietal wine has a mouth-filling body. Bright, light lemon/green has fresh, deep citrusy, peachy, spicy flavours, balanced acidity, a slightly salty streak, and a finely poised, dry, lingering finish.” Grüner Veltliner is typically a dry white wine that originated from Austria. It is often referred to as an exotic alternative to Sauvignon Blanc which makes Marlborough a model climate to ensure optimal grape growing every season.
In the name of celebrating all successes, Saint Clair also scored well with the Pioneer Block 9 Big John Riesling, Pioneer Block 11 Cell Block Chardonnay, Omaka Reserve Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well as the Saint Clair Pioneer Block 14 Doctor’s Creek Pinot Noir 2020. All of which scored favourably at 4.5 Stars.
“We have a strong focus on quality from vineyard to bottle across all facets of the business. It is always a thrill to receive acknowledgement of this quality focus from others. High ratings such as these from Winestate across a range of varietals and price points assist with further cementing Saint Clair’s reputation of being a leading New Zealand wine producer”. Marketing Manager and Saint Clair family member, Julie Ibbotson.
This blog references Winestate Recent Releases 2022 tasting – published September 2022
