Letter Series B Sauvignon Blanc
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Fresh Marlborough green-lipped mussels, artisanal goat cheese salad, or grilled sea bass with herb-infused butter.
✨ Technical Specifications
Brancott Estate holds a legendary status in New Zealand's wine history, having planted the very first Sauvignon Blanc vines in Marlborough back in 1973—a bold move that forever transformed the global wine landscape. The prestigious 'Letter Series' represents the pinnacle of their craft, with the 'B' Sauvignon Blanc showcasing a sophisticated evolution of the classic Marlborough style. Sourced from premier vineyards in the Wairau Valley, where intense sunlight meets cool coastal breezes and free-draining alluvial soils, this wine is crafted to offer exceptional texture. Unlike standard regional expressions, a portion of the blend undergoes wild fermentation and aging in French oak puncheons, alongside extended lees contact. This meticulous process tempers the grape's naturally vibrant, tropical punch with a creamy complexity, flinty minerality, and structural elegance.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1973 by Frank Yukich under Montana Wines, Brancott Estate occupies hallowed ground as the pioneer of commercial viticulture in Marlborough. Against the prevailing mid-century consensus that the South Island was overly cold for grape production, Yukich planted the first vines in the Brancott Valley, followed in 1975 by Sauvignon Blanc cuttings that catalyzed New Zealand's modern wine phenomenon upon their inaugural 1979 release. Set across alluvial gravel, silt loams, and stony terrace soils cooled by maritime Pacific breezes, the estate harnesses diurnal temperature fluctuations that preserve vibrant natural acidity and amplify aromatics. Viticulture adheres strictly to Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand guidelines, supplemented by certified organic blocks. Vinification centers on precision temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation alongside selected barrel fermentation for elevated cuvées. Benchmark expressions include the varietally expressive Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, the oak-textured Letter Series 'B' and 'R' bottlings, and the single-block icon Chosen Rows.