New Zealand’s Waipapa Bay Wines recently began a corporate sponsorship of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), which is a fairly self-explanatory charity, I think. Coinciding with that, Waipapa Bay recently dropped three new white wines, all from Marlborough, and all of which we had the pleasure of checking out. Let’s give them a spin.

2019 Waipapa Bay Chardonnay Marlborough – Initially mild and lively, the oak is decidedly restrained in this chardonnay, letting the fruit-heavy notes of spiced apples and pear crisp come to the fore. The finish is a bit on the chewy side, with notes of pastry dough prominent, above the fruit character. B

2019 Waipapa Bay Pinot Gris Marlborough – Boldly tropical, just as expected, with a layer of peach and apricot on top of the pineapple and mango. Lightly floral, but a bit too sweet throughout, with a hint of coconut cream on the back end. B+

2019 Waipapa Bay Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough – Crisp, tropical, and iconically kiwi, this sauvignon blanc exudes pineapple and mango notes, with the lightest note of lemon peel and fresh-cut grass to dial the fruit back with acidity. One of the better-balanced NZ sauvignon blancs on the market, especially at this price. A-

each $15 / waipapabaywines.com

2019 Waipapa Bay Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough

$15

9

Rating

9.0/10