Seven Terraces Sauvignon Blanc 2017
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Served chilled, this wine is an ideal accompaniment to seafood, poultry and salads.
Other Vintages
2016-
Wilfred
Wong
The winery, with its well-manicured grounds sit outside central Christchurch. The area is protected by the Teviotdale hills which shield the area from the winds off the Pacific Ocean. Instead, warm winds from the northwest create a microclimate with one of the longest growing seasons in New Zealand.
Partnering with the Empsons are winemakers Brent Rawstron and Alan McCorkindale.
The line is comprised of two wines. The first is a classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that exemplifies the regions now famous harmony between vibrant mineral, flinty elements and rich tropical nuances. The second wine is a fruit-forward Pinot Noir from a single-vineyard located in Canterbury where the microclimate is well-suited for producing wines with balance and finesse.
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.
An icon and leading region of New Zealand's distinctive style of Sauvignon blanc, Marlborough has a unique terroir, making it ideal for high quality grape production (of many varieties). Despite some common generalizations, which could be fairly justified given that Marlborough is responsible for 90% of New Zealand's Sauvignon blanc production, the wines from this region are actually anything but homogenous. At the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, the vineyards of Marlborough benefit from well-draining, stony soils, a dry, sunny climate and wide temperature fluctuations between day and night, a phenomenon that supports a perfect balance between berry ripeness and acidity.
The region’s king variety, Sauvignon blanc, is beloved for its pungent, aromatic character with notes of exotic tropical fruit, freshly cut grass and green bell pepper along with a refreshing streak of stony minerality. These wines are made in a wide range of styles, and winemakers take advantage of various clones, vineyard sites, fermentation styles, lees-stirring and aging regimens to differentiate their bottlings, one from one another.
Also produced successfully here are fruit-forward Pinot noirs (especially where soils are clay-rich), elegant Riesling, Pinot gris and Gewürztraminer.