Wine Spectator reviews confirm St Clair's success

MEDIA RELEASE 27 MARCH 2009

‘Wine Spectator’ Success Solidifies Saint Clair’s Wine Making Superiority

Saint Clair Family Estate is substantiating its standing as one of New Zealand’s superior wineries with its spectacular success in recent Wine Spectator reviews.

Harvey Steinman, author of Essentials of Wine, as well as Wine Spectator's long-time columnist, reviewed a comprehensive range of Sauvignon Blanc’s to find the best quality, best value wines he had tasted in the previous six months. The wines were rated using the 100-point scale, with wines reaching above the 90-point mark being considered as an ‘outstanding’ wine with ‘superior character and style’.

Saint Clair Family Estate had two wines - the Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2008 and the Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Vicar’s Choice 2008 – included in the top ten list for the Top Value wines. The wines, both retailing under $20 a bottle, achieved 91 points and 90 points respectively, in the 100-point scale – especially exceptional when one considers the affordability and availability of these truly top class wines.

In addition, other Saint Clair results include:
Saint Clair’s Pioneer Block 6 Oh! Block Sauvignon Blanc 2008 92
Saint Clair’s Pioneer Block 7 Berry Block Sauvignon Blanc 2008 92
Saint Clair’s Pioneer Block 18 Snap Block Sauvignon Blanc 2008 91
Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2008 90

No other Sauvignon Blanc producer has achieved as many wines in the 90 plus category from a single vintage as Saint Clair.

Bestowed with descriptions from Steinman such as “bright and jazzy” and “silky in texture”, Saint Clair’s sauvignon’s have long been regarded as some of New Zealand’s best. This latest achievement firmly reinforces the opinion of New Zealand’s leading Wine Writer, Bob Campbell, who asserts: “Saint Clair makes the country’s, and perhaps the world’s, best Sauvignon Blanc”.

Managing Director of Saint Clair Family Estate, Neal Ibbotson is, as always, humble in the face of his winery’s extraordinary achievements, “Of course we are thrilled over our latest success. However, ultimately it could not be done without the fabulous fruit and continued commitment of our incredibly skilled and dedicated wine making team.”

The scintillating success of Saint Clair is indicative of the extensive viticulture experience of the Saint Clair wine making team and its continued commitment to making exceptional wine. It is also testament to the family oriented approach where everyone works together as a team to claim a position at the top of the wine-making hierarchy.

ENDS.

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