The grapes are hand-picked (leaving sunburnt or otherwise defective bunches unpicked), crushed, must-chilled and cold-fermented with various yeasts, with one month lees contact. Simple. It has a highly aromatic and scented bouquet of nettle, citrus and herb, the vibrant palate with great thrust and persistence. A distinguished vintage of a distinguished line. 96 points James Halliday

Australia’s sauvignon blanc doyen - by reputation. Or market position. Though I notice that I wasn’t a huge fan of the 2008 Shaw and Smith Sauvignon Blanc. Fresh, crisp, appropriately flavoured and attractive through the finish.  Tastes of passionfruit and grass, lemon and slate. Yes, there is a bit of slateyness to this wine. And it gives it some class. And it makes me say, for the first time in a few years, that this wine deserves its reputation. I like the texture here too, even though it’s mostly about cut and thrust. Very good release. Rated : 93 Points Alcohol : 13% Price : $25 Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2009 - 2011 By Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front

Beautiful aromatic nose.  Lemon, apricot and peach - terrific crystalline fruit.  Fine peach flavour and great intensity with citrus freshness and no greenness.  Long and zesty. 18 Points; Julia Harding MW, www.jancisrobinson.com

Nice basil leaf and bright herbaceous fruit characters sit across citrus and tropical fruit aromas.  The palate has a juicy, crisp style and very tidy, bright acidity holding everything in place, finishing with zesty, clean appeal. 92 Points; Nick Stock, Wine 100 September 2009

This is the archetypal Aussie sauvignon blanc, celebrating its 20th vintage: intense, focused and juicy, with a tight structure and taut acidity.  Delicious. Peter Forrestal, The Sunday Times  12 July 2009

Shaw and Smith has a far greater Hills profile and produce one of the country's best-known sauvignon blancs.  Celebrating the winery's 20th anniversary, the 2009 version has everything that has given this wine a huge following - fresh, zingy, almost tropical fruit with just a sense of the varietal's more obvious herbaceousness.  As well, there's an exciting grapefruit pith textural line, underpinning a satisfying mid-palate weight. Tony Love, Adelaide Advertiser  1 July 2009

Unlike so many wineries, Shaw & Smith have decided there are a few wines they can do well and have concentrated on them.  Not for these guys tinkering around with the latest styles, fads and varieties.  Yet when they started, the wines made could hardly have been said to fit the usual mould.  In the early days, very few people were dabbling with sauvignon blanc.  It was little more than the proverbial sparkle in the eye of most kiwi winemakers.  Shaw & Smith took it on, defined it for Australia and still to this day lead the pack.  Is there any other wine about which one could say that it has led its category ion quality almost every year for 20 years?  Not that I can think of.  And 2009 sits with the best.  Possibly it's a little more along the herbaceous end of the spectrum than some buts its legions of fans will be very happy with the vintage. Ken Gargett  Courier Mail 8 September 2009