The Starborough Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 is sourced from vineyards in the Marlborough region of New Zealand’s South Island. Marlborough is on the northern part of the South Island. Starborough is an E & J Gallo wine brand, the largest family-owned wine company in the world.
The Starborough Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 is produced by Starborough WIne Company of Healdsburg, California. There is also a Starborough Wines located in New Zealand that does not seem to be related, though the names are very similar.
The webpage for this Sauvignon Blanc is one of those marketing, lifestyle pages with pictures of models having fun near water. There is no technical information listed, but that may be because there is not too much to tell.
This is a 2021 vintage probably harvested around April of last year, the grapes were still on the vine a year ago. This is a young wine, meaning that it was made in a style that needed little aging to find its balance.
This is excellent for Sauvignon Blanc because it drinks extremely well as a young wine. Sauvignon Blanc can be produced in a more elaborate style, the Sauvignon wine of Bordeaux can be aged for twenty years or more. Yund Sauv Blanc is the far more popular style and is far less expensive.
The Starborough Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 should be found for about $11 or $12, which may suggest the grapes came from vineyards with a good pedigree. Most Tastes of Marlborough Sauv Blancs (meaning not tied to a specific winery or set of vineyards) sell in the sub ten buck range.
Without any information, it is not easy to tell how and exactly where the Starborough Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 was made, but Gallo is skilled at making well-priced wines so I expect this wine to earn its slightly higher price tag. The alcohol content is 13%.
The Starborough Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is a very pale wheat yellow, some New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines have a green tint, but I see no green here. The nose is exactly what you look for in a young New Zealand Sauv Blanc, grassy, with bright tropical fruit notes, including guava and banana, grapefruit, lemon, peach, and a garden after a spring shower.
The Starborough Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 is a smooth wine with a good display of flavors and balanced acidity. The Sauvignon Blanc tastes like crisp green apple, pear, ripe peach, grapefruit, and kiwi. The mid-palate offers a slight salty sensation, guava, and lime. The acidity allows the flavor to unfold, but does not bite, the acidity in young wines can get a little out of hand but is well controlled here.
The Summary
- The Starborough Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 is a very enjoyable wine.
- Well-balanced and delicious, kind of a spring day in a bottle.
