Te Pā, Hillside Reserve 2023

te Pā is a Māori family estate rooted in Marlborough’s Wairau Bar, one of New Zealand’s oldest coastal settlements. The family farms sustainably, drawing on generations of guardianship of land and sea. Their vineyards lie on alluvial soils close to the coast, yielding wines of clarity and poise. Their “Reserve Collection” wines are single‑vineyard, high attention pieces showcasing Awatere Valley’s minerality, cooling breezes, and stony soils that bring tension and focus. Bright and pungent, this Sauvignon bursts with citrus (lime, grapefruit), nectarine, floral lift, nettle and fennel undertones. On the palate it’s crisp yet textured, with stone fruit, lime zest and a wet‑rock minerality that defines Awatere. Dry and tight, it finishes long, elegant and refreshing; complex but clear, a food wine that dances between freshness and structure.