Brightwater Lord Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Brightwater Vineyards, owned by the pioneering Gary and Valley Neale, may be one of the smallest estates on New Zealand’s South Island, but its world-class wines have earned it a (well-deserved) reputation as one of Nelson’s premier boutiques. And they have the trophies, golds and 5-star ratings to prove it.

Brightwater Lord Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc, an exclusive, limited-edition cuvée, is no exception. Leading critic Sam Kim rated it 5 stars and 95 points: “A hugely attractive Sauvignon with passionfruit, feijoa, white flesh nectarine and lime cordial aromas on the nose, followed by a concentrated palate delivering excellent fruit purity and refreshing acidity. It’s vibrant and flavorsome with textured mouthfeel, making it mouthwatering and delicious.”

With such a succulent flavor profile, it’s obvious the team has grape selection down to a science. For the exhilarating 2021, they picked the best fruit from three favorite vineyard sites—one brings intense, ripe fruit flavor; one exudes vibrant aromas; and the third delivers a distinctive mineral-herbaceous quality. Gary and Valley named the mouthwatering result after famed scientist and native Nelson son, Lord Ernest Rutherford. Pair with classic goat cheese or serve ice cold as a tongue-tingling aperitif.

Of course, we have to make a quick note about the vintage. While the 2022 growing season produced a superb-quality harvest, it also had some of the lowest yields in years. That means the quality is top notch (as you’ll taste) but there’s very little wine to go around. Add to that a shortage of harvesters and skyrocketing global demand, and New Zealand Sauvignon will soon be even harder to find on the shelves. You’d to well to secure this fabulous 2022 before we run out. (And we definitely will!)