Foxes Island Icon Artist Series La Lapine Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Silky, complex & remarkably age-worthy, this is Sauvignon Blanc for those who believe the world's most famous white grape is capable of so much more.

Crafted only in exceptional vintages, the 2014 La Lapine has spent years maturing in bottle, revealing extraordinary depth, texture and harmony. If you're looking for a vibrant, fruit-driven Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, look elsewhere. If you're searching for one of New Zealand's most distinctive, cellar-worthy Sauvignon Blancs, you've found it.

Made by renowned winemaker John Belsham from the Belsham Awatere Estate, this flagship Icon wine is fermented naturally with indigenous yeasts in a large French oak foudre before extended bottle ageing. The result is an elegant, savoury and beautifully layered Sauvignon Blanc that challenges expectations while remaining unmistakably Marlborough.

Why You'll Love It

• Flagship Icon Sauvignon Blanc produced only in exceptional vintages.
• Only 3,033 bottles made.
• Indigenous yeast fermentation in a large French oak foudre for exceptional texture & complexity.
• Extended bottle ageing before release for remarkable harmony.
• One of New Zealand's benchmark age-worthy Sauvignon Blancs.
• Perfect for collectors, fine dining & lovers of premium white Burgundy-inspired styles.

Tasting Notes

Wonderfully complex from the first swirl, aromas of citrus peel, golden apple, ripe white peach and subtle tropical fruits intertwine with savoury pastry, fresh herbs, flint and delicate lees complexity. The palate is beautifully textured and satin-like, driven by vibrant natural acidity that carries flavours of lemon peel, white peach, pineapple, crisp apple and savoury herbs through a long, mineral finish. Layers of foudre fermentation contribute subtle spice, depth and mouthfeel without overt oak influence, resulting in a Sauvignon Blanc of elegance, precision and remarkable persistence.

Wine Style

• Body: Medium to Full
• Sweetness: Dry
• Acidity: High
• Oak Influence: Subtle (Large French Oak Foudre)
• Texture: Rich & Silky
• Style: Complex • Mineral • Textural • Age-worthy • Elegant

Perfect With

This sophisticated Sauvignon Blanc deserves equally refined food pairings.

• Fresh Bluff oysters
• Crayfish or lobster with beurre blanc
• Pan-seared scallops
• Roasted chicken with tarragon
• Pork loin with apple
• Creamy mushroom risotto
• Goat's cheese & aged Comté

About the Producer

Foxes Island was founded by acclaimed New Zealand winemaker John Belsham, whose philosophy centres on producing wines that express vineyard character, precision and longevity. Sourced from the Belsham Awatere Estate in Marlborough's cooler Awatere Valley, La Lapine showcases an alternative, European-inspired expression of Sauvignon Blanc where texture, structure and bottle age take precedence over simple fruit intensity.

The 2014 Vintage

Declared only in exceptional years, the 2014 vintage produced fruit with outstanding concentration and natural balance. Following fermentation in French oak foudre and extended lees maturation, the wine was cellared for many years before release, allowing its remarkable complexity and bottle development to emerge while retaining freshness and precision.

Awards & Critical Reviews

• 96 Points & 5 Stars – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit (2025)
  "Wonderfully complex and alluring... captivating and structured with an impressively long, refined finish."
• 95 Points (Outstanding) – Cameron Douglas MS
  "A delicious wine with texture, mouthfeel and flavour... complexity, spice, length and breadth. Best drinking from 2023 through 2027."
• 5 Stars – Yvonne Lorkin
  "There’s one style of Sauvignon Blanc that’s built for the long haul, and it’s this."
• Sam Kim
  "There are many excellent alternative-style Sauvignon Blancs; La Lapine is the best of them all."

Drink Now or Cellar?

Already showing magnificent bottle development, La Lapine is drinking beautifully today and will continue rewarding careful cellaring through at least 2029. Serve lightly chilled (10–12°C) rather than ice cold to fully appreciate its complexity and texture.

Technical Details

• Producer: Foxes Island
• Wine: Icon Artist Series La Lapine Sauvignon Blanc
• Vintage: 2014
• Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Region: Awatere Valley, Marlborough
• Country: New Zealand
• Alcohol: 13.0%
• Closure: Screwcap
• Winemaker: John Belsham
• Fermentation: Indigenous yeast in large French oak foudre
• Maturation: Extended lees ageing & long bottle maturation before release
• Production: 3,033 bottles

Perfect For

• Collectors of mature New Zealand wines
• Premium seafood dinners
• White Burgundy lovers looking for something uniquely Kiwi
• Fine dining & special occasions
• Cellaring enthusiasts

If You Like...

If you enjoy mature Dog Point Section 94, Greywacke Wild Sauvignon or white Burgundy with texture and complexity, La Lapine offers a similarly layered, savoury and age-worthy style while expressing the distinctive purity of the Awatere Valley.

Why Buy This Wine?

Few New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are crafted with this level of ambition or patience. From indigenous fermentation in French oak foudre to extended bottle ageing before release, every decision is designed to create a wine of longevity, elegance and character. Produced in tiny quantities and released only when ready to drink, the 2014 Foxes Island Icon Artist Series La Lapine is an exceptional opportunity to experience one of Marlborough's finest alternative Sauvignon Blancs at its peak.