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The results in full from The Sauvignon Blanc Masters 2021
Sauvignon Blanc may be known for its signature citrus and gooseberry flavours, but producers are bringing out many aspects of this popular grape, as we saw among the medallists in 2021’s Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters.
FOR A grape variety so well known for one style of wine – gooseberry-scented and citrus-tasting whites, Sauvignon Blanc offers remarkable stylistic diversity. Such a conclusion can be drawn after a day spent judging around 200 samples for the annual Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters, a competition taking in bottles from a broad sweep of nations, and wines subjected to different picking decisions and cellar techniques.
In particular, we tasted Sauvignons made using many different fermentation formats, from stainless steel tanks to egg-shaped concrete vessels, barriques and oak casks of varying sizes. We also assessed Sauvignons blended with other grapes, such as Riesling and Semillon, Muscat and Verdelho, and then there were the source areas, which in 2021 included France, New Zealand, the US, South Africa, Chile, Italy, Australia and Greece.
But what were the dominant styles? Well, it seems Sauvignon Blanc today seems to fall into five general categories.
The first is the green type, where fruit has either been picked early, or the climate is so cool, that the wine is light, acidic, with crunchy flavours, notably capsicum and raw bean, while gooseberry may be present too.
The second is the citric version, where grapefruit and lemon dominate, ensuring the wine is fresh, and light, but not unripe in character.
The third is a richer style, where the fruit flavours move towards peach and pear, passion fruit too, and the texture fills out to make the wine seem heavier, even when the acidity is high.
Then there’s a further version, a fine style of Sauvignon, where fresh citrus, nettle and orchard fruit mingle with other characters, from gun smoke to chalk and salt to offer something layered, interesting and moreish.
And finally, there’s the overtly barrel-influenced Sauvignon, where, if done well, riper characters from pear to pink grapefruit are married to toast and vanilla notes in a wine that’s layered, and a touch oilier than your usual linear style of white from this grape.
Nevertheless, there’s further variation still, and that comes from the fact that characters from these general stylistic classifications can be found all in the same wine, either due to different harvesting dates – with some grapes picked early, others late – or winemaking techniques, where a proportion of ferments might take place in oak, others in concrete, or stainless steel.
The result is that Sauvignon Blanc represents no single wine style and is a category of interest and variation – and that extends to quality differences too. So, for those who profess to being bored of Sauvignon, remember that this single grape is the basis of the great blancs of Bordeaux, as well as the light whites of Loire, along with the fumés of California, and pungent drops from Marlborough to Leyda, and the Western Cape.
And when it comes to finding the best examples, well, for this year, see the medalists below, and our highlights, by clicking here.
Unoaked 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal | |
Under £10 | ||||||
Distell | Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve The Cape Mist Sauvignon Blanc |
Durbanville | South Africa | 2019 | Silver | |
Cono Sur | Reserva Especial Sauvignon Blanc | Casablanca Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver | |
Elgin Vintners | Cloud Haven Sauvignon Blanc | Elgin | South Africa | 2021 | Silver | |
SeeWines | Colorito Sauvignon Blanc | Black Sea | Bulgaria | 2020 | Silver | |
De Bortoli Wines | Sheep Shape Sauvignon Blanc | Victoria & Riverina | Australia | 2021 | Silver | |
Pradio Vineyards | Pradio Sobaja Sauvignon Friuli DOC | Friuli Venezia Giulia | Italy | 2020 | Silver | |
Luis Felipe Edwards | Veleros Sauvignon Blanc | Leyda Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver | |
Yealands Wine Group | Yealands Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Distell | Nederburg Winemasters Sauvignon Blanc | Stellenbosch | South Africa | 2021 | Silver | |
Distell | Durbanville Hills Signature Sauvignon Blanc | Durbanville | South Africa | 2021 | Silver | |
Invivo & Co | Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough & Gisborne | New Zealand | 2021 | Bronze | |
Accolade Wines | Fish Hoek Sauvignon Blanc | Western Cape | South Africa | 2021 | Bronze | |
Emiliana Organic Vineyards | Adobe Reserva Sauvignon Blanc | Casablanca Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze | |
Luis Felipe Edwards | Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc | Leyda Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze | |
Luis Felipe Edwards | La Corriente Sauvignon Blanc | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze | |
Luis Felipe Edwards | Echo Sauvignon Blanc | Leyda Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze | |
De Bortoli Wines | DB Winemakers Selection Sauvignon Blanc | Riverina | Australia | 2021 | Bronze | |
Luis Felipe Edwards | Extra Special Sauvignon Blanc | Leyda Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze | |
Luis Felipe Edwards | Ocho Millas Sauvignon Blanc | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze | |
Distell Limited | Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve The Cape Mist Sauvignon Blanc |
Durbanville | South Africa | 2020 | Bronze | |
Cono Sur | Bicicleta Sauvignon Blanc | Central Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze | |
Cono Sur | Organic Sauvignon Blanc | Chile | Chile | 2021 | Bronze | |
£10-£15 | ||||||
Marisco Vineyards | The Kings Series Favour Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Gold | |
Matahiwi Estate | ME By Matahiwi Estate Sauvignon Blanc | Wairarapa | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Invivo & Co | Invivo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Emiliana Organic Vineyards | Novas Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc | Casablanca Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver | |
Concha y Toro | Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver | |
te Pa Family Vineyards | te Pa Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Yealands Wine Group | Babydoll Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Yealands Wine Group | The Crossings Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Stoneleigh | Stoneleigh Organic Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Marisco Vineyards | Leefield Station Sauvignon Blanc | Waihopai Valley | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
te Pa Family Vineyards | Montford Estate | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Viña Estampa | Estampa Reserva Sauvignon | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver | |
Booster Wine Group | Sileni Straits Grand Reserve Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Waimea | Waimea Sauvignon Blanc | Nelson | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Awatere River | Awatere River Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Wakefield/Taylors Wines | Wakefield Taylors Sauvignon Blanc | Adelaide Hills | Australia | 2021 | Silver | |
Viña Aresti | Trisquel Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc | Leyda Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver | |
De Grendel Wines | De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc | Durbanville | South Africa | 2021 | Bronze | |
Constellation Brands New Zealand |
Kim Crawford Marlbough Sauvingon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Bronze | |
Flagstone Winery | Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc | Cape South Coast | South Africa | 2020 | Bronze | |
Cono Sur | 20 Barrels Sauvignon Blanc | Casablanca Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze | |
Stoneleigh | Latitude Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Bronze | |
Marisco Vineyards | The Ned Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Bronze | |
Castelfeder | Sauvignon Raif | South Tyrol | Italy | 2020 | Bronze | |
Yealands Wine Group | Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Bronze | |
Viña Aresti | Espiritu de Chile Explorador Sauvignon Blanc | Leyda Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze | |
£15-£20 | ||||||
Nautilus Estate | Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Master | |
Viña Estampa | Estampa DelViento | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2018 | Gold | |
Stoneleigh | Rapaura Series Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2020 | Gold | |
Babich Wines | Babich Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Viña Estampa | Estampa DelViento | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2020 | Silver | |
Brancott Estate | Letter Series B Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Rimapere | Rimapere Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Viña Estampa | Estampa DelViento | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver | |
Brancott Estate | Awatere Reserve Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Kleine Zalze Wines | Vineyard Selection Sauvignon Blanc | Western Cape | South Africa | 2020 | Silver | |
Rimapere | Rimapere Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2020 | Silver | |
Yealands Wine Group | Estate Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Bronze | |
£20-£30 | ||||||
Alpha Estate | Alpha Sauvignon Blanc | Florina | Greece | 2020 | Gold | |
Nautilus Estate | The Paper Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2020 | Gold | |
Cantina Valle Isarco | Aristos Sauvignon | Alto Adige | Italy | 2020 | Silver | |
Langlois Château | Château de Fontaine-Audon Sancerre | Loire Valley | France | 2020 | Silver | |
Kleine Zalze Wines | Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc | Western Cape | South Africa | 2019 | Silver |
Oaked 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal | |
Under £10 | ||||||
Viña Valdivieso | Valdivieso Winemaker Sauvignon Blanc | Casablanca Valley | Chile | 2020 | Bronze | |
De Bortoli Wines | Deen Vat 2 Sauvignon Blanc | Riverina | Australia | 2021 | Bronze | |
£10-£15 | ||||||
Elgin Vintners | Sauvignon Blanc | Elgin | South Africa | 2021 | Gold | |
Invivo & Co | Invivo X, Sarah Jessica Parker Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Viña Valdivieso | Valdivieso Valley Selection Sauvignon Blanc | Leyda Valley | Chile | 2020 | Silver | |
De Bortoli Wines | Windy Peak Sauvignon Blanc | Riverina & King Valley | Australia | 2021 | Silver | |
Viña Aromo | Mewlen Reserve Sauvignon Blanc | Maule Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver | |
Viña Aromo | Cuatro Vientos Reserve Sauvignon Blanc | Maule Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver | |
Murphy-Goode | Sauvignon Blanc | California | USA | 2020 | Silver | |
Viña Aromo | Reserva Privada Sauvignon Blanc | Maule Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze | |
Castelfeder | Sauvignon Burgum Novum | South Tyrol | Italy | 2017 | Bronze | |
£15-£20 | ||||||
te Pa Family Vineyards | te Pa Oke Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2019 | Gold | |
Yedi Bilgeler | Khilon Fume Blanc | Agean Region | Turkey | 2020 | Gold | |
Viña Morandé | Morandé Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc | Casablanca Valley | Chile | 2020 | Gold | |
Viña Valdivieso | Valdivieso Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc | Leyda Valley | Chile | 2020 | Silver | |
Smith & Sheth | Cru Wairau Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Klein Constantia | Estate Sauvignon Blanc | Western Cape | South Africa | 2020 | Silver | |
Matanzas Creek | Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc | Sonoma County | USA | 2020 | Bronze | |
Fantinel | The Sun Goddess Sauvignon Blanc | Friuli Venezia Giulia | Italy | 2020 | Bronze | |
£20-£30 | ||||||
Marisco Vineyards | The Craft Series Pride & Glory Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2017 | Master | |
Alpha Estate | Ecosystem Fume Single Block Kaliva | Florina | Greece | 2019 | Gold | |
Marisco Vineyards | The Craft Series Pride & Glory Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2020 | Gold | |
Pyramid Valley | Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2019 | Gold | |
Ktima Gerovassiliou | Ktima Gerovassiliou | Epanomi | Greece | 2020 | Gold | |
La Roncaia | Eclisse | Friuli Venezia Giulia | Italy | 2020 | Silver | |
Marisco Vineyards | The Craft Series Pride & Glory Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2019 | Silver | |
Alpha Estate | Ecosystem Fume Single Block Kaliva | Florina | Greece | 2020 | Silver | |
Marisco Vineyards | The Craft Series Pride & Glory Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2018 | Silver | |
Klein Constantia | Metis Sauvignon Blanc | Western Cape | South Africa | 2018 | Bronze |
Unoaked Blend (minimum 50% Sauvignon Blanc)
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal | |
Under £10 | ||||||
Viña Concha y Toro | Frontera Sauvignon Blanc | Central Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver | |
Domaine du Grand Mayne | Grand Mayne Sauvignon | South West | France | 2020 | Silver | |
Viña Concha y Toro | Reservado Sauvignon Blanc | Central Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver | |
Vistamar | Vistamar Reserva Sauvignon Blanc | Maule Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze | |
£10-£15 | ||||||
Stoneleigh | Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Silver | |
Howard Park | Botham Series 77 Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc | Margaret River | Australia | 2021 | Silver | |
Robert Mondavi Private Selection |
Sauvignon Blanc | California | USA | 2020 | Silver | |
Brancott Estate | Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2021 | Bronze | |
Pyramid Valley | North Canterbury Sauvignon Plus | North Canterbury | New Zealand | 2020 | Bronze | |
£15-£20 | ||||||
Pyramid Valley | North Canterbury Sauvignon Plus | North Canterbury | New Zealand | 2019 | Gold |
Oaked Blend (minimum 50% Sauvignon Blanc)
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal | |
£10-£15 | ||||||
Distell | Durbanville Hills The Tangram White Blend | Durbanville | South Africa | 2018 | Gold | |
Domaine du Grand Mayne | Domaine du Grand Mayne | South West | France | 2019 | Gold | |
£15-£20 | ||||||
Kendall-Jackson | Vintner’s Reserve Sauvignon Blanc | California | USA | 2020 | Gold |
About the competition
With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters provides a chance for your wines to star, whether they hail from the great vineyards of Europe or lesser-known winemaking areas of the world.
The 2021 competition was judged over one day in November at 28-50 Wine Workshop & Kitchen in Chelsea, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding in their field received the ultimate accolade – the title of Sauvignon Blanc Master. This report features the medal winners only.
Please visit the Global Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com
Read more
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