The Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is sourced from estate vineyards planted in the flat land of the Wairau River Valley in the Marlborough district in the Northeast of the South Island in New Zealand.
Allan Scott founded his winery in 1990 but has been part of the New Zealand wine industry since the early 1970s. The company name is actually Allen Scott Family Winemakers, so the family knows their way around New Zealand vineyards and how to produce Sauvignon Blanc.
The vineyards are thirty-five years old and are planted in rocky clay soil. The vineyard names are Millstone, Omaka, and Moorland, I added that last bit of information because you rarely get the vineyard names for $11.99 wine (I found it on-sale).
The Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is a drink-it now wine meant to be consumed in the year it was released. This type of wine will last several years, but I find they are at their best sooner rather than later
The 2020 vintage may seem to be a little too soon for a wine release, but New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere and their seasons are reversed to ours. This Sauvignon Blanc has all the aging this style of wine needs.
The grapes from the various vineyard lots were fermented separately and the best lats were then blended together to produce the Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc 2020. Fermentation was performed in stainless steel tanks and the wine was then aged for one month, again in stainless steel.
The alcohol content is a rather reserved 12% and according to the tasting notes, this Sauv Blanc is made in a more “pulled back” style than the sometimes “shouty” affordable New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc 2020 Tasting Notes
The color is a shiny, very clear, wheat beer yellow. The nose is more delicate Han the usual Marlborough Sauv Blanc where the aromas jump out of your glass. Here there is delicate melon, peach, pear, ripe apple, lime, guava, and a pretty floral edge.
The Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is an extremely well-balanced Sauvignon Blanc with a solid variety of flavors and textures. I have seen this wine be rated as high as 93 points in Wine Magazines, and I can see the attraction.
It tastes of grapefruit, Anjou pear, and ripe peach. There is a very pleasing line of acidity that runs straight through the body of this wine. The mid-palate brings nectarine, tart lime, dried apricot, and a slap of spice.
The Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is a strong but not too bold Sauvignon Blanc with loads of flavor.
The Summary
- The Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is an excellent drink-it now New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
- There are so many different wine regions globally that grow quality value-priced Sauvignon Blanc that I fell away from drinking NZ Sauv Blanc.
- The Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc 2020 has me excited about the New Zealand wine again.
