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 handpickhealthy 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 its 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 Smillon adds body and smooth texture. Explosivelyrich and completely dry, this wine boasts the elegance and refinement of a stately SauvignonBlanc. Intense minerality from the gravelly soils complements exotic fruit aromas of lychee,pineapple, and honeydew melon. The silky texture comes from extended lees contact (surlie). Vibrant acidity stimulates the palate, keeping it watering throughout. The wine has greatpurity, leaving a refreshing yet weighty mouthfeel with remarkable vigour and persistence fromstart to finish.

Technical Data

Varieties 85% Sauvignon Blanc, 15%Semillon Rootstock Riparia Gloire Vine Planted 1996 (grafted 2004) Soil Shallow (<45 cm) stony soil, well drained, developed from stony alluvium. Not one row shows the same soil type. Planting Density 5,500 vines/ha Yield 2.5t/ha Alcohol 13.5% Residual Sugar <1g/L Ageing Potential

10 years

Bottles Produced 2,310

Food Matching Suggestions

Beautiful with all seafood dishes. Try with Sashimi…

Industry Reviews

Erin Larkin from Robert Parkers Wine Advocate – 95 points

‘The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, fermented and matured for 20 months in 500-liter puncheons, is a golden hue in the glass. The time on skins is not evident on the nose, and I honestly love this character of orange peel, graphite, lead pencil, star anise, fennel, etc., alongside beeswax, river stones and cloth. The time on skins has lent the wine a gentle bitterness and viscosity, and were it not for the time on skins, these things would be concerning. However, given the way this wine has been made, I absolutely love it. It will not be for everyone, but for those who like this style, they will love it. Rich, but edgy. Includes 15% of co-fermented Semillon. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under Diam.’

James Suckling – 94 points

‘A dry and chunky wine with sliced melons, apples and hints of caramel and cream. Its medium- to full-bodied with layers of fruit and phenolics and a fresh and vibrant finish to the richness. Delicious. Drink now. Screw cap.‘