Villa Maria Southern Clays Sauvignon Blanc 2016

David Skinner rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

South of the Wairau River along the foothills in Marlborough lies a piece of land that lies in the shadow of the Villa Maria cellar door. Known as the Soouthern Clays, vines grown here are well protected from winds and get a significant advantage in terms of warmth and moisture retention. Such influences give the wines made from this area a tropical profile with plenty of herbal influence. This wine presents all these in abundance.

Medium straw colour. Fragrances of passionfruit, citrus and interesting accents of smoke, herbs and bramble. Mouth-watering acidity. Tropical fruit flavours and orange zest lead to a generous finish with minerality leading the charge.

Pamela Chiles rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Leafy, lemony, herbaceous, stony with well-integrated acidity. Pair with grilled octopus.

Andrea Shapiro rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Grown on Limestone hills. Water white colour, Crisp green apple, lemon, white grapefruit and salty sweat. (A touch of funky fun) This is accompanied with a few traditional notes of gooseberry and passionfruit. Flavours bring forth Grapefruit, asparagus, kiwi and nectarines There is a fruity sweet finish with stone fruits and starfruit persisting. Juicy and mouth watering. Pair with white balsamic glazed chicken and arugula-endive goats cheese salad. - 90 points

Sylvain Segard rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Almost clear light straw colour. Aromas of grapefruit with pungent herbal character. This wine has a light and fresh citrus and herbaceous palate. Score 88. (S.Segard, reviewed Sept. 25, 2017)