Loveblock 2023 "Tee" Sauvignon Blanc

The 2023 Loveblock "Tee" Sauvignon Blanc is a highly innovative, certified organic, and vegan-friendly white wine crafted by Erica and Kim Crawford. Poured as a pale straw color with delicate green and gold reflections, this unique bottling is defined by its revolutionary viticulture, where natural green tea tannin extract is used during winemaking to replace added sulfur (SO2) as a preservative. The grapes are 100% Sauvignon Blanc harvested from the certified-organic Woolshed vineyard in the Lower Dashwood sub-region of Marlborough's Awatere Valley, characterized by aged alluvial loams and stone soils. On the nose, it delivers lifted aromatics of mandarin zest, quince, yellow peach, sweet basil, gooseberry, white pepper, and distinct wet stone minerality. The elegant and complex palate unfolds with juicy mandarin, earthy cumin, ripe yellow star fruit, and unctuous notes of kiwi, marzipan, and summer peach. It offers a beautifully layered, textured mouthfeel wrapped in a mild tannin note and a savory layer of umami, all held together by a buoyant, crisp acidity that carries into a precise finish accented by sweet basil and lemon verbena.

Because of its radical, savory umami profile and rich texture, this Sauvignon Blanc is exceptionally versatile for food pairings. The wine's structural acidity and herbal complexity make it a perfect companion for fresh raw oysters, seared tuna, and delicate seafood pasta dishes like spaghetti alle vongole. It pairs beautifully with Asian-inspired cuisine, cutting right through the creamy richness of a spicy Thai green curry or complementing vegetable kebabs and fresh summer salads. The subtle hint of green tea and herbal undertones also harmonize naturally with poached salmon, light poultry creations, or lemon-herb chicken dishes.

The 2023 vintage has captured intense critical acclaim for its daring composition and sensory brilliance, earning a coveted #33 spot on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of the Year for 2025. Wine Spectator awarded it a score of 90 points, describing it as a stylish white bursting with fragrant notes of lemon balm and basil. Wine Enthusiast honored the vintage with a 93-point rating and designated it a "Hidden Gem," celebrating its generous, slippery texture and unique late-summer orchard aromatics. The Tasting Panel Magazine also bestowed a 93-point rating, highly praising its mouth-filling, unctuous notes of kiwi, pineapple, and summer peach, which are brilliantly energized by a racy acidity. Furthermore, renowned wine critic Natalie MacLean scored the vintage a 91 out of 100, commending the beautiful weave of orchard fruit, hay-field aromas, and oat-husk warmth that keeps each sip exceptionally buoyant.