Marlborough-based winery Brancott Estate has indicated its 2012 vintage is "the finest Marlborough has ever experienced".

Its cool wet conditions during flowering and fruit-set led to a lighter crop, and is set to deliver "exceptional quality" wines, according to Patrick Materman, chief winemaker.

"The 2012 vintage is without a doubt one of the finest Marlborough has ever experienced," he said. "A late, cool flowering period delivered significantly reduced crop levels, and this in turn has led to wines of great concentration and varietal expression.

"Although the growing season has been the coolest experienced since the early 1990s, very few rain events, clear blue skies and lighter crops have meant optimum ripeness and flavour development has been achieved across all varieties."

Materman added: "As my team and I, with more than 100 years of vintage experience, have tasted the ferments from wines from all corners of Marlborough – from the Awatere to Wairau Valley – we're excited about how exceptional the 2012 wines are going to be and how far we have come since launching the original Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in 1979."