$49.00 $70.00
| /
Region: Marlborough
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc
First Glance: Smoky, Concentrated, Citrus, Mineral
The Wine:
Some vineyards were harvested by machine and others by hand, all into halftonne bins, which were tipped directly into tank presses. The grapes were pressed lightly and the resulting juice was cold-settled prior to racking into mostly old French oak barriques. The juice was allowed to undergo spontaneous indigenous yeast fermentation, the tail end of which continued for well over six months. The wine had occasional lees stirring and approximately two-thirds underwent malo-lactic fermentation. It was transferred out of oak prior to the following harvest and left on yeast lees for a further six months. The wine was bottled in November 2017 with alcohol 14.0%, pH 3.20 and acidity 6.0 g/l.
Imagine – shortbread and friands, quinces and apricots, lemon zest and ginger, honeysuckle and vanilla bean – a delicious, sweet-scented fragrance of ripe fruit and Asian spices infused with a tarragon-like herbal thread and a faint whiff of wood smoke. Fermented entirely with naturally occurring yeast, this is an alternative style of sauvignon blanc that is both intricate and textural with a rich, succulent palate finishing crisp and long with a flinty dryness.
The Review:
Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 95pts
"Light, bright yellow colour; the bouquet smoky, barrel-influenced, complex and intriguing. It's restrained, delicate and dry, crisp and balanced with softness and drinkability. The oak is very discreet on the palate. The wine is quite delicate and restrained for a barrel-fermented savvy. It still has a varietal signature. I like its subtlety. A delicious wine."
