Barrel aged Sauvignon Blanc “Sur Lie” 2021
This wine is made from hand picked Sauvignon Blanc, whole bunch pressed for purity of juice. Largely natural fermentation in aged french oak barriques and 500 litre puncheons (large format oak). Partial malolactic fermentation gives added weight and texture. A small portion of skin fermented Sauvignon Blanc gives aromatic interest and delicious citrus pithy characters.
Technical Notes (this vintage)
Tasting Notes (pdf download)
Reviews
Bob Campbell
Barrel fermented sauvignon blanc, with creamy citrus, stone fruit and nectarine flavours, plus a suggestion of ginger and bran biscuit. A deliciously textural wine with impressive weight and a lingering finish 2019-2021
94/100 4 Stars
Michael Cooper
Developing good complexity with age, the 2017 vintage was estate-grown in the northern Wairarapa and fermented and lees aged for 10 months in seasoned French oak barrels. Re-tasted in mid 2019, it is a light yellow, medium to full-bodied wine, sweet-fruited, with generous, ripe tropical-fruit flavours to the fore, some herbal notes, a subtle seasoning of toasty oak, balanced acidity, and impressive harmony. Drink now or cellar. Certified Organic.
4.5 Stars
Sam Kim
A splendid alternate-style; the complex bouquet shows grapefruit, lemon zest, flint and dried herb characters with nuances of oatmeal and beeswax. The palate is equally engaging and attractive with excellent weight and concentration, backed by fine texture and racy acidity, leading to an impressively long finish. At its best: now to 2024. Certified organic.
94/100 5 Stars
Cameron Douglas
Very attractive bouquet of both variety and sense of place – a mix of sweet citrus fruits and peaches with some barrel spice and lees layers. Dry, high acidity, layers of flavours and textures, spice and ripe fruit. Long detailed finish, complex, balanced and well made. Drink now and through 2026.
94 Points
Raymond Chan
Bright straw-yellow colour with some depth, a little lighter on the rim. This has an elegant and slender nose with finely concentrated and softly presented aromas of green stonefruits, gooseberries, fresh herbs and subtle nutty nuances. The aromatics build in intensity with aeration to show depth and presence, unfolding mineral notes. Dry to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate has restrained flavours of green stonefruits and gooseberries, fresh herbs, hints of lanolin and nutty notes. The palate is stylish in presentation with fine textures and balanced, lacy acidity. The wine carries to an elegant, lingering, nuanced finish. This is a stylish oak-influenced Sauvignon Blanc with green stonefruit, gooseberry, herb and nutty flavours on a finely nuanced palate. Match with herb-marinated seafood and poultry dishes over the next 3 years. Select vineyard parcels, given some skin contact and full barrel-fermented in seasoned French oak to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 10 months on less with some batonnage and partial MLF. The wine is a barrel selection. Certified BioGro organic.
18.0/20
NZ Organic Wine Awards
Gold Medal
Raymond Chan
Brilliant, pale straw-yellow colour, lighter on rim. The bouquet is fresh and well-defined with intense and penetrating aromas of white and green stonefruits infused with nutty, oxidative complexities, revealing herbs and chalky, minerally detail. Dry to taste and medium-full bodied, the flavours of white and yellow stonefruits are subtly melded with complexing nutty notes. The fruit is vibrant and sweetly rich, and backed by lively, refresh acidity lending real energy, brightness and a slippery flow. The wine follows a very fine, soft-textured line, leading to an elegantly proportioned, long, nutty finish. This is an elegant, luscious and slippery, complex, nutty, barrel-influenced Sauvignon Blanc. Match with seafood, poultry and pork over the next 3+ years. Select parcels of fruit destemmed and given some skin contact, and barrel-fermented in seasoned French barriques to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 8 months in oak undergoing batonnage and partial MLF. Following a barrel selection the wine was given further barrel aging on lees.
18.5/20
Sam Kim
This is luxurious, dramatic and engaging, and also firmly structured for a graceful development. A magnificent barrel-fermented style showing complex aromas of stone fruit, citrus and flint with hints of almond and dill. The palate is concentrated and richly textured with excellent mid palate weight, flowing beautifully to a long, expansive finish. A wine showing wonderful style and impeccable harmony. At its best: now to 2022
94/100 5 Stars
Bob Campbell
Oak fermented and matured Sauvignon that is represents a selection of the finest barrels. Richly textured wine that still retains good fruit purity with mineral, grapefruit and nutty yeast lees flavours. Oak character is evident but appropriately restrained. Good potential.
4 Stars (90/100)
Cameron Douglas
Quite a complex and concentrated bouquet with aromas of roasted tropical fruits and oak spices melded together; peach, red apple, sweet citrus and white flowers, there’s a honey note then obvious barrel led spice – all adds up to complexity. On the palate – dry, richly flavored, generous of fruit and oak combinations; medium++ acidity and floral notes; quite a serious wine that has generosity, subtlty and a sense of place. Really well made with a medium+ length and finish.
4.5 Stars