Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
This is an intriguing, complex rendering of Sauvignon Blanc. It's reasonably weighty and plush, yet marked by hints of tomato leaf, wet mossy stone and grapefruit that linger on the finish.
-
Wine Spectator
The tangy, tasty Key lime pie, passion fruit and ripe melon flavors are lush and flavorful, with juicy acidity, lemongrass and tropical hints on the long, smooth finish.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
Part of the Wairarapa region in the southern end of the country’s North Island, Martinborough is a bucolic appellation full of artisan, lifestyle wine producers. Above all else, their goals are to tend vineyards for low yields and create wines of supreme quality. Pinot noir is the main grape variety here, occupying over half of the land under vine.
Comparing topography, climate and soils, the region is nearly identical to Marlborough except that it produces top quality reds on the regular.