2020 Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Initially, the 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Te Koko is sweet, fruity and round, offering up tinned mandarins and sweet nectarine fruit (5g/L) alongside subtle oak-derived flavors. However, the wine progresses to become taut and sour, a combination of firm acidity, low pH and phenolics, leading to a slightly uncomfortable conclusion. Rather a disappointing Te Koko, after an impressive 2019.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Key vineyards: Widows, Motukawa and Estate. Hand-picked selected lots within blocks. They're looking for the older vines. Less new oak than there used to be (though there is some sweet oakiness) and less ripe fruit. They start the ambient-yeast ferment in tank for nine days or so to ensure the yeast are behaving themselves. It then goes into 200 barrels! Very little malo because it's so difficult to achieve. Released 12 months later than of old. pH 2.98. Sophisticated and much much less oaky than it used to be. Sleek and refreshing. More precision than the Blank Canvas Abstract Three Rows but it's quite similar. Excellent acidity. Very good! (JR)
From the latest-picked fruit. Aged for 18 months in oak. Not produced in 2017, 2018 and 2022. Oak spice plays a key role on the nose, with vegetal character, lemon juice, plenty of body and weight, great persistence. Nutty and sophisticated, very savoury. There's bitter grapefruit character on the finish. Much more primary fruit than most Bordeaux equivalents, but otherwise very comparable in style. (RH)