91 Points, Wine Align – 2019 Loveblock Marlborough ORANGE Sauvignon Blanc (Now Known As 2019 Loveblock Marlborough TEE Sauvignon Blanc)

David Lawrason – 92 Points
This deceptively yellow in colour, not orange as advertised. But is “no sulphur” and infused with green tea to prevent oxidation, which is very creative. It does have a slightly stemmy nose with brussel sprouts, lemon lime and cucumber. It is medium-full bodied, quite lemony and firm. The length is excellent. Tasted October 2020John Szabo – The indefatigable Crawfords, Kim and his wife Erica, have been trailblazing for years. While the massive Kim Crawford brand is no longer in their hands, they continue their quest with Loveblock, an organically-certified vineyard in the Awatere Valley. The “orange” is rare a skin-fermented version of sauvignon with a unique twist: green tea powder is used as a natural anti-oxidant instead of sulfur (or nothing at all). And yes, there’s an herbal, zesty note here, though no obvious connection. What I like most is the savoury aspect, the marked salinity that drives through to the finish. It’s an intriguing wine to be sure, one that deserves attention over the course of an evening.

Michael Godel – 91 Points
Loveblock’s Orange is many things; sustainable, vegan, organic and single vineyard in origin, as in the estate’s Woolshed Vineyard. What it is not is sulphured, instead led through an anti-oxidant process by the use of green tea. Colourless in Orange wine terms, gem-like instead like white platinum or pale gold and clean as the ideal can be. Fresh, easy textured and leaving no salve or tannic paste behind. Does exhibit a tisane and a steeped botanical sensibility that puts the “O” back into its orange. Good wine by whatever preferred genre, oeuvre or pigeon hole. Drink 2020-2024. Tasted October 2020.

John Szabo, MS – 90 Points
Loveblock’s “orange” sauvignon blanc, a skin-fermented version from estate and organic vineyards, brings a twist to the genre with green tea used as a natural anti-oxidant instead of traditional sulfur (or northing at all). And yes, there’s an herbal, zesty note here, though no obvious connection. It’s mostly about the gently oxidative citrus fruit, candied orange/orange marmalade and melon. What I like most is the savoury aspect, the marked salinity that drives through to the finish. An intriguing wine to be sure, one that deserves attention over the course of an evening – there’s a lot going on here. Tasted October 2020.

Sara d’Amato – 90 Points
An elegant sauvignon blanc, so pale that you may do a double take in examining the orange-ness of this wine. Fragrant with notes of peach blossom and lemon grass. On the palate, juicy grapefruit and some textural grip. Keenly made with a notable mineral presence and excellent length. Tasted October 2020.

91 Points, Wine Align (Nov 2020)