Colour:
Pale green.
Aroma:
Bright green capsicum and kaffir lime leaf with a hint of freshly cut grass.
Palate:
Intense blackcurrant with generous layers of tropical passionfruit and a rich herbaceous thread. A distinct salty oyster shell character leads to a long lingering finish.
Ageing:
Drinking beautifully now and best enjoyed over the next two years.
Winemaker:
Stewart Maclennan
Region:
Marlborough’s lower Wairau region, east of Blenheim township.
Soils:
Even, fertile, deep, free-draining silt loam.
Topography:
Flat and even. Approximately three metres above sea level.
Climate:
Maritime. Slightly cooler than most of
the Marlborough valley with a slower annual ripening period.
Regional characteristics and contribution to the uniqueness of flavours:
Rows are planted north-east to the south-west at a 43-degree angle rather than the typical north to south. This leads to slightly greener characters in grapes on the south-facing side and more tropical characters in grapes on the north-facing side. The resulting wine is therefore multi-dimensional and complex. The site is cooler than some other areas of the valley and hence slower to ripen. The distinguishing flavours are crushed herbs (often associated with the coastal Awatere region) and an absence of sweaty characteristics.
Winemaking:
The fruit was pressed off as quickly as possible to minimise skin contact and juice deterioration following harvesting. After settling the juice was fermented using selected yeast in 100 per cent stainless steel at cool temperatures to retain fruit flavour and freshness. This batch was selected as a Pioneer Block wine due to its unique flavour, intensity and complexity.
Viticulture:
Vertical shoot positioning, four cane.
Wine Analysis:
Alcohol 13% v/v
Residual sugar 2.2g/L
Acidity 7.3g/litre
pH 3.22
Our Food Match Recommendation:
An ideal match with freshly shucked natural oysters.
Vegan friendly
Silver Medal - Marlborough Wine Show, 2021 Silver Medal - New Zealand International Wine Show, 2021
