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I found the Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 selling for $11.99. This is the first wine of the year for which the most current vintage is actually 2024. New Zealand’s growing season is the opposite of ours since it is south of the equator.
Delegat (founded in 1947)is a family-owned wine company that owns Oyster Bay and they specialize in New Zealand and Australian wines.
Marlborough is in the northwest corner of the South Island. (7% of the vineyards in Marlborough and certified sustainably farmed.
The Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is sourced from grapes from multiple regions inside Marlborough, the grapes had a long growing season with cold nights and warmer days. The grapes were fermented in small lots, picking the inland vineyards first and finishing with the coastal vineyards.
A wide range of yeasts are used for fermentation, each yeast type brings out different flavors in the wine. Sauvignon Blanc is a pick the grapes do a quick fermentation, age the wine a bit, and then sell it wine. They do not use complicated production techniques. The use of different yeasts is a way to make the wine unique to the winery.
The different small lots are blended and a short aging period is “on-less”, which indicates the dead yeast was kept in the vat while aging (this adds flavor)
The alcohol content is a mild 12%.
The Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Tasting Notes
The color is a shiny golden yellow. The nose is melons, lemon, peaches and pears, Green apples, and a slap of tropical fruit. The Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 lighter-bodied wine with good flavor and length.
This Sauvignon Blanc tastes like apple, lime, peach, Anjou pear, and bright spice. The mid-palate shows melon, guava, dried pineapple chips, nectarine, and coconut milk.
The acidity is well-controlled and gives this wine a lingering finish.
The Summary
- The Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is on the lighter side but does not skimp on flavor.
- Some NZ Sauv Blancs can be spikey with odd flavors, not the Oydter Bay.
- It is silky smooth and tasty.
