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Richmond Plains 2010 Sauvignon Blanc
 Richmond
Plains is an 8ha family-owned vineyard near Nelson. It has a
dedicated team passionate about using organic methods to grow and
nurture their vines, without the use of synthetic chemicals. It has
been certified organic since 1992 and in 2008 became the first New
Zealand winery to carry both organic and biodynamic certification.
It was also the first winery to produce certified organic versions
of New Zealand's signature varieties, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot
Noir.
It is one of those wines (the Sauvignon Blanc) that I have chosen
for this week's column. As with Marlborough, the Nelson region is
ideally suited to growing Sauvignon Blanc, creating vibrant, fruit
driven wines with intense flavours.
The fruit sourced for the 2010 vintage came from a mix of old and
new vines. A hot, dry summer in the region contributed to an early
harvest of quality fruit. The harvest was completed in mid April
with the fruit exhibiting excellent flavour. Once harvested, the
fruit was crushed and de-stemmed before being cool fermented to
preserve that vibrant, fresh Sauvignon character New Zealand is
renowned for.
I found the 2010 Richmond Plains Sauvignon Blanc to exhibit aromas
of fresh cut herbs, citrus, passionfruit and gooseberry. On the
palate, I found vibrant flavours of lime, gooseberry and
passionfruit with a slight hint of nectarine, leading to a lingering
finish of capsicum, and fresh herbs, with a mineral note. It is a
vibrant, balanced and refreshing palate with a long, lingering,
crisp finish. It is an excellent wine, with weight and body, and it
is no surprise it is already winning accolades on the international
stage.
Richmond Plains is billed as an eco-friendly adventure that can be
shared by wine lovers who cherish their health and want to
contribute to caring for our environment. I would suggest though
that this wine should be tried by any Sauvignon Blanc lovers. The
organic process also makes it a good choice for vegetarians, or a
great companion with freshly caught baked or pan fried fish..
It is no surprise that this wine has won two gold medals and the
inaugural Best of Show Organic and Biodynamic Trophy at the Hong
Kong International Wine Challenge, Asia's most prestigious wine
competition. One of the two golds was the prestigious Gentlemen's
Favourite, where the male judges award their preferred wine over all
categories.
Reviewed by Stephen Clark (23/5/2011)
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