Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2026 750ml

“Benchmark Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc with pink grapefruit, citrus and crisp fresh acidity.”

Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2026 is one of those wines that has become a benchmark for the style, and the new vintage continues exactly where you would hope.

Pink grapefruit, lime and fresh orchard fruit lead the way, with green apple, citrus zest and a gentle herbal edge adding plenty of freshness. The palate has excellent flavour intensity without feeling heavy, finishing clean, dry and beautifully crisp. Shaw + Smith describes 2026 as a cool, late season that produced concentrated fruit with excellent natural acidity.

This is an easy bottle to recommend if you like Sauvignon Blanc with freshness but do not want something thin or aggressively grassy. There is plenty of citrus and crunch, but also enough texture and concentration to make it feel like a proper wine rather than simply something cold for a hot afternoon.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pink grapefruit, lime, green apple and citrus zest with subtle orchard fruit and fresh herbs.

Palate: Bright and lively with grapefruit, citrus and crisp apple, supported by refreshing acidity and good mid palate texture.

Finish: Clean, dry and persistent with lingering citrus zest and a fresh mineral edge.

Halliday Wine Companion - 93 Points

There's no quibble that it's a ripper drink here. Fresh, vibrant, crisp, delicately adorned with 'classic' sauvignon blanc scents and flavours. A little juiciness and a tug of fine grip in texture. Dashes of green herb, just-ripe pineapple, a lick of jalapeño and aloe, a squeeze of lime in mineral water all going on here. A little diffuse in weight and flavour, one could say, but it offers up great pleasure, purity and high refreshment factor in spades. Mike Bennie

Serving Suggestions

Excellent with oysters, prawns, grilled fish, calamari and fresh seafood.

It also works beautifully with goat cheese, salads and lighter chicken dishes. Or simply open it as an aperitif, which Shaw + Smith specifically recommends.

About The Winery

Shaw + Smith was founded in 1989 by cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW, with a focus on producing modern cool climate wines from the Adelaide Hills.

The 2026 Sauvignon Blanc comes from estate vineyards at Balhannah and Lenswood. These vineyards are certified organic, and the wine continues the long standing reputation of Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc as one of the benchmark examples of the variety in Australia.

There are flashier Sauvignon Blancs around, but this one has built its reputation by being reliably good year after year. Sometimes consistency is a fairly underrated superpower.

Cellaring Potential

Best enjoyed young while the citrus, grapefruit and fresh orchard fruit are at their brightest.

Shaw + Smith recommends drinking the 2026 within around 18 months of bottling, although well stored bottles should remain fresh for around two years.

Collector’s Note

The 2026 Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc received 93 Points from Mike Bennie for Halliday Wine Companion.

It also received 95 Points from Jeni Port for Wine Pilot, who highlighted its fruit concentration, texture, freshness and persistent acidity.

Details

Producer: Shaw + Smith
Vintage: 2026
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Bottle Size: 750ml
Wine Style: Crisp Cool Climate Sauvignon Blanc
Wine Sweetness: Dry
Wine Body: Light to Medium Bodied
ABV: 12%
Closure: Screw Cap
Organic: Estate Vineyards Certified Organic
Critic Scores: 93 Points Mike Bennie, 95 Points Jeni Port
Key Flavours: Pink Grapefruit, Lime, Green Apple, Citrus Zest, Orchard Fruit, Fresh Herbs