Mount Riley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025

John Buchanan, whose family goes back five generations in Marlborough, left a job with one of New Zealand's largest wineries to found Mount Riley in 1992, and it remains a family affair: his daughter Amy manages the winery's operations, and her husband, Matt Murphy, who spent seven years as winemaker at Craggy Range, is senior winemaker. The name belongs to a nearby 1,314-meter mountain, which was itself named after a sea captain. This Sauvignon Blanc blends fruit from multiple sites across Marlborough, a portion from the Awatere Valley and the rest from the Wairau, fermented cool in stainless steel to hold on to its lifted aromatics. Citrus, passionfruit, gooseberry, and currant lead, with a touch of crushed herbs, on a palate with more weight than the price suggests and a crisp finish. Pour it with oysters, smoked fish, or chargrilled vegetables.