Holdaway Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Marlborough, NZD $18

Remarkable value for money from the Holdaway vineyard in Dillon’s Point of Coastal Wairau—a subregion known for being able to retain classic flavours even at higher crop loads, something which worked in its favour in the 2025 vintage. Archetypal Marlborough sauvignon blanc in expression, this Appellation Marlborough Wine is tailored for immediate enjoyment.

Crunchy green apple and juicy gooseberry in a classic expression of Marlborough’s green and tangy style. There is length and textural interest provided by finely measured structure with fair palate weight before it gives way to light salinity on the finish. (Screwcap)

Score: 91 ★★★★ – view original tasting note

Alcohol: 12.5%

Drink: now to 2027

Food: spring asparagus risotto

Stockists: Lowlands Wines (Holdaway Estate); Blackmarket online (NZ)

Ranked: #26 of 71 2025 Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough

Awarded: Top Value

McHenry Hohnen Rocky Road Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2024, Margaret River, AUD $25

This is 78% sauvignon, 22% semillon. It’s undergone skin contact, fermentation on solids, and ageing in seasoned oak to bring complexity.

Light-medium yellow colour with a ripe passionfruit and mango, tropical fruit nose, very overt and in-your-face. A big flavoured, ripe and generous sauvignon blend that should win many fans. (Screwcap)

Score: 92 ★★★★ – view original tasting note

Alcohol: 13%

Drink: now to 2030

Food: poached john dory with two sauces made from green and red capsicums

Stockists: McHenry Hohnen wines

Ranked: #2 of 16 2024 Sauvignon Blanc blends from Margaret River

Awarded: Top Rank & Top Value

Clos Henri Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Marlborough NZD $25

This organic, dry-grown vineyard shone in 2025, crafting a remarkably value-priced estate wine with elegance and complexity, capturing all the best qualities of the year. Great value for the price.

Quite restrained with subtle aromas of earth, green olive, green pineapple and a hint of gorse flower. The palate harbours density and depth under the shell of acidity and phenolics. Gravel, hessian and wet stone complexities rise alongside a touch of dried spice on the bone-dry finish. Accessible and expressive, this mid-weight sauvignon oozes sophistication. (Screwcap)

Score: 93 ★★★★ – view original tasting note

Alcohol: 13.5%

Drink: now to 2028

Food: seared scallops with fennel, cucumber and za’atar

Stockists: Clos Henri Wines; Maison Vauron, Auckland and online (NZ)

Ranked: #4 of 71 2025 Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough

Awarded: Top Rank & Top Value

Wine Classification: 1 Merit

Kaiora Bay Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Marlborough, AUD $13

Not all Aldi stores are licensed to sell liquor, and they don’t have a selling website, but if you go online they have a handy store locator that shows your nearest stockist.

Lifted aromatics, floral, herbal and slightly sweaty, the palate tense and dry with focus and length, passionfruit/tropical flavours lingering long on the follow-through. Has some fruit concentration. Delicate yet intense, and very quaffable. (Screwcap)

Score: 92 ★★★★ – view original tasting note

Alcohol: 12%

Drink: now to 2029

Food: spaghetti marinara including NZ greenlip mussels

Stockists: Aldi stores that stock liquor

Ranked: #25 of 71 2025 Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough

Seifried Estate Riesling 2024, Nelson, NZD $20

Remarkable value riesling from the Eden Road Vineyard, a very stony and free-draining site which is leaf-plucked to increase fruit exposure. 2024 was a near-perfect vintage for the winery, Hermann Seifried even suggesting that it is the finest harvest he has seen in his 49 seasons in the region. The fruit was cool-fermented entirely in stainless steel to preserve aromatic purity.

This is a ripe riesling with notes of spice, honeycomb, apple blossom, peach and ripe citrus. The palate explodes with fruit, supported by its medium-dry sweetness on a lush, generous palate which gently tapers down to pithiness on the finish. A showy wine which will continue to gain complexity in the near-term. (Screwcap)

Score: 90 ★★★★ – view original tasting note

Alcohol: 13.0%

Ageing: now to 2032

Food: green mango salad

Stockists: Seifried Estate Wines

Ranked: #26 of 42 2024 Riesling from New Zealand

Awarded: Top Value

Marnong Estate Chardonnay 2024, Sunbury, AUD $25

The grapes were grown on the vineyards of Marnong Estate, which is just outside Melbourne in the tiny Sunbury wine region. Winemaker is Alex Beckett.

Very light straw colour; stone-fruit juice, malt, lemon and dried herbs: quite fruit driven. The wine is crisp and lean, tensioned and refined, with good line and length. Delicate and with room to grow. (Screwcap)

Score: 91 ★★★★ – view original tasting note

Alcohol: 12.8%

Drink: now to 2034

Food: tuna crudo with blood orange and slivered pistachio

Stockists: Marnong Estate Wines

Ranked: #42 of 96 2024 Chardonnay from Victoria

Awarded: Top Value

Settlement Heritage Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Marlborough, NZD $25

Fantastic value from the excellent 2024 Marlborough sauvignon vintage, this is from organic vines planted between 1990 and 1995, located south-east of Renwick. The combination of the vintage’s concentration and depth with carefully judged 15% wild-ferment in old oak elevates this above its peers without deviating too far from the ‘classic’ style.

Grainy, dry texture with hints of sweet floral notes over ripe apple and even honeysuckle. Good definition here with crispness but also mid-palate density. Long finish with chalky interest. (Screwcap)

Score: 93 ★★★★ – view original tasting note

Alcohol: 13.5%

Drink: now to 2027

Food: seared scallops with grapefruit and fennel salad

Stockists: Settlement Wines; Vino Fino, Christchurch and online; Regional Wines & Spirits, Wellington and online (NZ)

Ranked: #8 of 109 2024 Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough

Awarded: Top Rank & Top Value

De Bortoli The Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2023, Yarra Valley, AUD $25

De Bortoli’s Estate vineyard is at Dixons Creek, alongside the winery. Kate Webber, daughter of chief winemaker Steve Webber and Leanne De Bortoli, is now making the wines alongside her dad.

Herbal, fruit-driven aromas lead the way and include subtle smokiness and a hint of silage, while the palate is light bodied and of medium intensity and good immediate drinkability. All the components are in balance, and the wine will make good drinking in the short term. (Screwcap)

Score: 90 ★★★★ – view original tasting note

Alcohol: 12.7%

Drink: now to 2030

Food: pan-fried snapper fillet with salmoriglio dressing

Stockists: De Bortoli Wines; Dan Murphy’s stores and online (AU)

Ranked: #40 of 61 2023 Chardonnay from Yarra Valley

Awarded: Top Value

Eradus Awatere Valley Pinot Noir 2024, Marlborough, NZD $25

A classically cooler-climate, vine tomato style of Awatere pinot noir, this comes from a narrow terrace in the subregion. The vines are now 24 years old and feel the effects of the ocean winds coming on-shore. With subtle oak from 10 months of élevage, this is fresh and crunchy, representing good value for a drink-young wine but it will also reward those who keep it for a year or two with savoury complexity.

Youthfully closed, the nose reluctantly yields black plum and savoury vine tomato with air. Some lightly chewy and minty tannins on the finish amplify cranberry, tomato stalk and leaf notes. It has a forward, crisply herbal expression which balances bright acidity with crunchy fruit for near-term enjoyment. (Screwcap)

Score: 88 ★★★ – view original tasting note

Alcohol: 12.5%

Ageing: now to 2030

Food: hot smoked salmon with beetroot salad

Stockists: Eradus Wines; Vino Fino, Christchurch and online (NZ)

Ranked: #32 of 33 2024 Pinot Noir from New Zealand

Dirty Three All The Dirts Chardonnay 2024, Gippsland, AUD $55

This is a new label, which replaces The Dirty Chardy, and allows winemaker/proprietor Marcus Satchell to use grapes from all of the available vineyards—aka the dirts.

Light, bright straw-yellow hue; biscuity, creamy lees, almond and freshly rolled pastry aromas. Gently smoky. Very appealing flavour of lemon/citrus, creamy lees and pastry; the weight is medium-light but with good intensity, and it has delicacy and great drinkability. A lovely wine already, and should take some age well. (Screwcap)

Score: 95 ★★★★★ – view original tasting note

Alcohol: 12.5%

Drink now to 2037

Food: prawn toasts

Stockists: Dirty Three Wines

Ranked: #6 of 82 2024 Chardonnay from Victoria

Awarded: Top Rank