Methode Traditionnelle

Chardonnay

Sauvignon Blanc

Aromatic

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Red Wine
 

Saint Clair 2011 Marlborough Premium Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough is known for its Sauvignon Blanc and wineries like Saint Clair Family Estates are known for producing some excellent examples. For this reason, I have been looking forward to trying this week's wine, the 2011 Saint Clair Marlborough Premium Sauvignon Blanc.

For this wine, grapes were sourced from a selection of vineyards and sub-regions including the Lower Wairau Valley, and Rapaura. Each vineyard block was harvested when it was deemed the fruit had reached maximum flavour maturity and physiological ripeness.

Grapes were transported to the winery with haste and pressed off immediately to minimise skin contact and juice deterioration. After settling, the juice from each batch was fermented using a variety of selected yeasts in 100 percent stainless steel at cool temperatures. Each batch was then assessed for quality and only the best was used to make this wine.

I found the resulting Saint Clair 2011 Marlborough Premium Sauvignon Blanc to have wonderful, vibrant aromas of blackcurrant, gooseberry, passionfruit and citrus. On the palate, I found this wine to be an elegant, well-balanced wine with a long lingering finish. Flavours of gooseberry and citrus shine through and there is a hint of underlying mineral notes.

It is a wine that is to be enjoyed while young and will be at its best over the next two years. I would recommend it with fresh seafood, especially sea run trout.

Reviewed by Stephen Clark (25/10/2011)
 

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