Winemaker:
Stewart Maclennan
Winemaking:
The juice was pressed off immediately to minimize skin contact following harvesting. After settling, the juice was fermented in stainless steel using a selected yeast strain. The fermentation was carried out at cool temperatures to retain varietal characters and freshness. This parcel was identified by our winemaking team during comprehensive blind tastings as the very best batch of wine produced for the 2023 vintage and therefore bottled as the Saint Clair Wairau Reserve.
Viticulture:
Proximity to the ocean sees stronger maritime influences on the single vineyard in the lower Wairau Valley where fruit for the Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc was grown. The daytime temperatures are warm, facilitating ripening, while the night temperatures are typically cooler than the central and upper parts of the Wairau Valley. This promotes increased hang time and flavour development. Nutrient rich soils deposited over time due to non-erosive flooding (prior to stop bank flood protection being introduced) have formed even and fertile sites. The nutrient hungry Sauvignon Blanc vines utilise this fertility to produce extremely concentrated flavours and aromas.
