Greywacke Wild Sauvignon

Greywacke Wild Sauvignon: Marlborough Sauvignon with a wilder side

Greywacke Wild Sauvignon is not your standard bright-and-zippy Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. This is the grape with a little more depth, texture and intrigue. Made by Kevin Judd, the founding winemaker of Cloudy Bay, it takes Sauvignon Blanc into a more serious, food-loving direction, with wild fermentation and barrel work adding richness, savoury detail and a beautifully grown-up feel.

Greywacke is one of Marlborough’s most respected producers, founded by Kevin Judd in 2009 after his long and highly influential career at Cloudy Bay. The name comes from the rounded greywacke river stones found in the soils of his first vineyard in Rapaura, a nod to both the landscape and the character of the region.

What makes this wine stand out is its “Wild” approach. Rather than leaning only on the classic Marlborough Sauvignon notes of gooseberry, lime and passion fruit, this wine is fermented with naturally occurring wild yeasts and aged in barrel. The result is a more layered, textural and savoury style of Sauvignon Blanc. It still has the freshness you want, but with extra weight, complexity and a subtle smoky edge.

There is real patience behind that texture. Fermentation takes place in French oak barriques, with only a small proportion of new barrels, and can continue for well over six months. Occasional stirring of the lees — the yeast sediment left after fermentation — helps develop the wine’s rounded mouthfeel. A substantial proportion also undergoes malolactic fermentation, which softens the acidity. Further time resting on its lees after leaving barrel adds another layer of complexity before bottling.

In the glass, Greywacke Wild Sauvignon has a pale gold colour and a generous aroma of grapefruit, lime, passion fruit and guava, with hints of fennel, herbs, smoke and a light mineral note. The palate is dry, rich and rounded, with juicy citrus and tropical fruit balanced by crisp acidity and a long, elegant finish. It feels serious without being heavy, and it is a brilliant choice if you love Sauvignon Blanc but want something with more depth.

Greywacke Wild Sauvignon Food Pairing Suggestion:

This is a superb match for pan-fried swordfish steaks with parsley and garlic. The wine has enough freshness to cut through the richness of the fish, while its smoky, savoury side works beautifully with the golden crust, herbs and garlic. It would also be lovely with roast chicken, grilled prawns, creamy seafood dishes, or charred vegetables with lemon and herbs.

About Greywacke Wild Sauvignon:

• Made in Marlborough, New Zealand, by Kevin Judd, the founding winemaker of Cloudy Bay.
• Fermented with naturally occurring wild yeasts for a more complex, individual style.
• Barrel fermentation gives the wine extra texture, savoury depth and a subtle smoky character.
• A great option for Chardonnay drinkers who want to explore a richer, more layered style of Sauvignon Blanc.
• Fruit comes from Marlborough’s Southern Valleys and central Wairau Plains, bringing together vineyards with clay-loam soils and sites containing the region’s characteristic greywacke river stones.
• Predominantly seasoned French oak allows the wine’s fruit and savoury character to shine without an overwhelming taste of new oak.
• Wild Sauvignon has a strong record of ageing well, making it an interesting bottle to enjoy now or follow as it develops greater complexity with time.

Greywacke Wild Sauvignon Awards:

• 2023 vintage: 95 points, Decanter.
• 2023 vintage: 95 points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate.
• 2023 vintage: 95 points, Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast.
• 2022 vintage: 95 points and Editors’ Choice, Wine Enthusiast.
• 2021 vintage: 97 points, Decanter, and 97 points, Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous.

View other Greywacke wines.