Man O' War Gravestone Sauvignon Semillon 2018

Reviews and accolades

Cameron Douglas MS: 93/100 (Excellent). Intense and varietal with aromas of stone and smoke, wax and wool, iron sand, citrus, apple and pith. A hint of salt and fruit spice add depth and complexity. On the palate - a satin texture quickly gives way to intensity of flavour and acidity in this still very youthful example. Lemon and grapefruit, white peach and citrus pith, a mix of fruit and barrel spice, sweet hay, honeysuckle and apple. The salinity enhances the stony mineral flavours while the core of citrus fruits offer contrast, tension and length. Well made and perfect as an aperitif or with fresh summer fare. Best drinking from 2021 through 2028+.

Bob Campbell, MW: 93/100. Appealing purity and a perfect balance of tangy acidity that helps drive a lengthy finish. The Man O' War Gravestone 2018 is a more robust and complex barrel-fermented blend of sauvignon blanc (75%) and semillon (25%). It's a highly individual and pleasingly textural wine that allows the fruit to occupy centre-stage.

Decanter World Wine Awards 2020: Silver & 90/100.

Rebecca Gibb MW: 1 of 10 must-try New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Tasting notes

The wine exhibits some flinty notes over aromatics of green apple, lemon, grapefruit, smoky flintstone with additional tones of passion fruit. The palate is fresh and vibrant with vibrant acidity balanced by weight and texture from the barrel fermentation and a long persistent gin and tonic like finish.

Aromas and flavours:

Additional information

Varietals: 75% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Sémillon

Alcohol: 13%

Residual sugar:  4 g/l

Bottle size: 0.75l

Notice: contains sulfite

Vineyard: Waiheke Island, New Zealand

Winemaking: Vintage 2018 began with a settled and dry Spring resulting in great flowering and a corresponding excellent fruit set. We then enjoyed a relatively hot summer although there were intense periods of rainfall thanks to ex Tropical Cyclone Fehi and Gita which put the pressure on during harvest time. Temperatures remained warm into the harvest months increasing humidity but overall and with careful attention to detail in the vineyard we were rewarded with excellent fruit with fresh early picked Sauvignon blanc giving a fresh racy edge to the wine and ultra ripe Semillon provided masses of tropical fruit characters. 

The Sauvignon blanc was hand harvested off a number of hilltop blocks and given extended skin contact before pressing and fermentation on juice lees in barrel. The Semillon was gently pressed and clarified before fermentation in old seasoned barrels. Following fermentation the wines stayed on lees for 6 months in tank and barrel before blending.

Gravestone: Taking its name from the fluted basalt boulders that solemnly surround our volcanic hilltop vineyards, Gravestone is bequeathed upon the finest blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.

Cellaring potential: 2026+

Produced and bottled by: Man O' War Vineyards, PO Box 1287, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140, New Zealand