Walnut Block Nutcracker Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Marlborough, Organic

Nutcracker is the flagship range of Walnut Block, a small, certified organic family estate in the Rapaura sub-region of Marlborough’s Wairau Valley. This single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc comes from the estate’s oldest vines, grown on free-draining alluvial soils laid down by an ancient riverbed. The vines are trained on a Scott Henry divided canopy, which gives the fruit good sunlight without leaf plucking, and shoots are thinned to keep yields low and ripening even. The grapes are hand-harvested and gently whole-bunch pressed. Around a third of the juice ferments in old barrels with wild yeasts and the rest in stainless steel, and the wine has extended contact with its lees.

This is a delicate, refined style of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The nose shows concentrated tropical fruit and ripe citrus, with notes of lemongrass, pink grapefruit and guava. The palate is rich and textured, with good fruit concentration, subtle yeasty complexity from the barrel and lees work, fine acidity and good length.

Serve chilled, at around 8–10°C; a glass that is not too cold shows off its texture. It is a lovely match for scallops, prawns, grilled fish, roast chicken, asparagus, goat’s cheese and dishes with fresh herbs. Delicious now, it should also develop well over the next several years.

Walnut Block is a boutique family winery in Marlborough’s Wairau Valley, founded in 2005 by brothers Clyde and Nigel Sowman, who bring together experience in viticulture and the wine industry. Clyde manages the business while Nigel looks after the vineyard. Their 17-hectare vineyard in the Rapaura sub-region was first planted in 1996 on alluvial soils left by an ancient riverbed, and takes its name from Marlborough’s oldest walnut tree, which still stands among the Sauvignon Blanc vines. The brothers chose to farm organically because they believed it would give finer-quality grapes, and the estate is certified organic by BioGro New Zealand. Over time they have found the vines more self-sufficient, giving wines with greater depth and mouthfeel. The Nutcracker range, made from the best fruit, is their flagship.