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NEW ZEALAND Yealands Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Producer
Based in the Awatere to the south east of Marlborough’s Wairau Plains, Yealands Estate encompasses 1,000 hectares of viticultural land (with 500 hectares currently under vine) in the rolling downs of the Awatere Valley, with smaller vineyard blocks near Blenheim.
Yealands Estate is the largest vineyard in private ownership in New Zealand and founder Peter Yealands is renowned for his innovative vineyard management techniques and technologies. The winery is Carbon Neutral and the first to be built entirely under the New Zealand Green Building Council’s accreditation programme, while the vineyard is sustainably managed. This approach in both the winery and the vineyard is rare in such a large operation.
Vineyards
The Seaview Vineyard is exposed to some of the toughest growing conditions in Marlborough; high sunshine and wind, cool nights and low rainfall which produces a smaller, thicker skinned berry with intense fruit flavours. The rolling contours of the vineyard result in significant variation (smaller, more intensely flavoured fruit on the ridges, balanced by lush growth in the gullies).
Vintage Information
The 2011 vintage delivered a fantastic ripening period of warm, dry weather and cool nights, enhancing and capturing the grapes natural flavours. Overall the season produced outstanding wines brimming with varietal flavour, structure and intensity. The Seaview Vineyard is exposed to some of the toughest growing conditions in Marlborough; high sunshine and wind, cool nights and low rainfall which produces a smaller, thicker skinned berry with intense fruit flavours. The rolling contours of the vineyard result in significant variation (smaller, more intensely flavoured fruit on the ridges, balanced by lush growth in the gullies).
Vinification
Two of the best parcels from Seaview Vineyard were selected for this wine and were harvested individually over a period of two days. The fruit was crushed, de-stemmed then pressed gently prior to cold settling for 72 hours. The clear juice was then racked off and each parcel was fermented separately using two different yeasts. A long cool fermentation followed to capture and enhance the fruit flavours of passionfruit, currant and thyme. The parcels were then kept on lees for a period of three months, with regular stirrings to help gain texture and structure. The wine was then blended, lightly fined, stabilised and filtered prior to bottling.
Tasting Notes
This wine shows lifted flavours of blackcurrant with underlying notes of wet stone and thyme. The palate is elegant yet full with sufficient weight and texture, which is balanced by the flinty minerality typical of the Seaview Vineyard. This wine is a fantastic match with foods such as poultry dishes and a wide range of seafood dishes and shellfish.
| Vintage |
2011 |
| Grape varieties |
100% Sauvignon Blanc |
| Region |
Marlborough |
| Winemaker |
Tamra Washington |
| Closure |
Stelvin |
| Alcohol (ABV) |
13.5% |
