Waipara Springs, Sauvignon Blanc, 2023

Grapes

Sauvignon Blanc

Vintage report

Waipara — or North Canterbury, as the broader region is officially known — doesn't always make international headlines at vintage time, and 2023 is no exception in terms of fanfare. What we can say is that the season followed the pattern much of New Zealand experienced: a relatively dry, warm growing season that kept disease pressure low and allowed growers to make deliberate harvest decisions rather than racing against rot or rain. That kind of vintage tends to suit Waipara's two headline acts — Riesling and Pinot Noir — rather well, preserving the piercing acidity that defines the region's Rieslings while giving Pinot enough warmth to develop genuine depth of fruit without losing the savoury spine that makes North Canterbury Pinot worth the conversation.

The wines we've tasted from 2023 feel composed and well-defined, with Rieslings that have both the structure for cellaring and enough drive to drink well now. The Pinots are generous without being flabby — there's real substance here, not just fruit. We'd give the lighter-styled Pinots another year or two, while the best examples will reward patience until 2028 or beyond. The Rieslings, particularly from the limestone-rich Waipara sub-zone, are worth sitting on until 2027 at least.