Nose
Lemon sherbet, pink grapefruit, citrus blossom, guava, passionfruit, fresh pineapple, sage and watermelon almost obscure the delicate smoky vanilla from the barrel fermentation of this feisty Sauvignon Blanc.
Palate
Brace yourself, as a riot of flavours explodes in your mouth, whilst the wonderful fleshy fruit texture offers richness, & the saline, mineral acidity hones a long satisfying finish.
Growing Conditions
The season was preceded by a wet winter & spring, the driest November since 1999 - so there were no issues around flowering or fruit set - & then the wettest December since 1996. This was followed by a long, dry Indian summer, with maximum temperatures mirroring the long-term average
Bottling
The wine was bottled on 7th August 2018
Winemaking
Whole bunch pressed with no additions were made to the juice (i.e. no sulphur dioxide, no enzymes, no acid & no cultured yeast), which underwent a wild yeast ferment (60% barrel fermented). The balance was tank fermented and also received lees stirring. The wine was settled (but not fined), filtered and bottled.
Aging
The barrel portion was left on lees with some stirring for 5 months in French oak barriques of which 10% were new.
Appearance
Pale Straw
Food Pairing
Chicken Saltimbocca with Basil Mash
