Sauvignon Blanc 2020
From the heart of Marlborough but a world apart. Handcrafted in tiny quantities for an incomparable artisan Sauvignon/Semillon 'sur lie'. Untamed, with long skin contact for complexity and texture, 'wild' barrel fermentation without any additions and 20 months on the fine lees for its famous silkiness. Dry and explosively rich, the pinnacle of a stately Sauvignon Blanc. Vintage 2020
2020 showed of with another perfect growing season including a long Indian summer to handpick healthy and intensely flavourful berries for our Sauvignon to weave its magic spell. Hans' Winemaking Comments
'Gently destemmed with partly whole berries. Long, cold maceration to extract the wonderful flavours from the skins. After gentle pressing, the wine embarked upon a natural wild yeast co-fermentation to express it’s unique terroir and sense of place in 500 litre French oak puncheons (20% new). The young wine was left on its pure lees, which was regularly stirred during the first three months, responsible for the exquisite silkiness, complexity and depth. After 20 month of maturation in the barrel, we bottled this nectar with no cold stabilization or fining and only light filtration to retain the beautiful aromas. Natural sediments may show but do not impact on the high quality of this natural wine.' Tasting Note
This is Marlborough, but a world apart, rivalling the finest Bordeaux Blancs. Sauvignon Blanc
provides intrinsic aromatics and acidity, while Sémillon adds body and smooth texture. Explosively rich and completely dry, this wine boasts the elegance and refinement of a stately Sauvignon Blanc. Intense minerality from the gravelly soils complements exotic fruit aromas of lychee, pineapple, and honeydew melon. The silky texture comes from extended lees contact (sur lie). Vibrant acidity stimulates the palate, keeping it watering throughout. The wine has great purity, leaving a refreshing yet weighty mouthfeel with remarkable vigour and persistence from start to finish. Technical Data Varieties 85% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Semillon Rootstock Riparia Gloire Vine Planted 1996 (grafted 2004) Soil Shallow (