Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc 2024

In a region where Sauvignon Blanc can sometimes feel like it’s being produced by a committee, Astrolabe remains a fiercely independent, family-run beacon of quality. Simon Waghorn has spent decades deconstructing the Marlborough landscape, and for the 2024 flagship bottling, he’s woven together fruit from across the Wairau and Awatere Valleys to create a wine that is refreshingly balanced.

What really separates Astrolabe from the supermarket savvy pack is the texture. There’s a weight and a palate squeeze here—thanks to some serious lees work—that gives the wine a sophisticated, almost mineral-driven chassis. It’s dry, it’s incredibly focused, and it has that crunchy acidity that makes your mouth water for a plate of oysters or a sharp goat cheese.

If you’re someone who thinks they’ve graduated from New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, this 2024 release is the one to pull you back in.