Saint Clair – Chardonnay, ‘Omaka Reserve’ – 2020-22

PRODUCER NOTE:
Neal and Judy Ibbotson were pioneers in the Marlborough wine industry, first planting vineyards in the valley in 1978 and then establishing Saint Clair Family Estate in 1994. They own 160 hectares of vineyard in 10 different Marlborough locations chosen specifically for the attributes of their individual “terroir” and ability to produce top quality grapes. Neal Ibbotson combines his extensive expertise in viticulture with the talent of one of New Zealand’s leading winemaking teams. Since 1994, when wines from the first vintage all won medals including gold, the name Saint Clair has been synonymous with quality and its award-winning record continues today. This is a sentiment shared by Bob Campbell MW, who says “Saint Clair now makes the country’s and perhaps the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc”.

VINTAGE:
The quality of fruit from the 2020 harvest was exceptional. A large stretch of classic stunning Marlborough sunshine, with virtually no rain, hence no disease, ensured the berries reached their full physiological ripeness. Warm weather during November and early December 2019, meant flowering was excellent, leading to average yields for the season. March produced ideal growing conditions with true Marlborough style of warm days and cool nights; the latter producing fruit with the characteristic refreshing acidity. 2020 produced average yields of high quality fruit.

VINEYARD:
Omaka in Maori means the ‘place of the stream’. The grapes were sourced primarily from Saint Clair’s vineyards in Marlborough’s Omaka Valley where a combination of warm days, cool nights and clay based soils contribute to greater retention of fruit flavours. The fruit is a blend of Chardonnay clones, predominantly Mendoza and Burgundian Clone 95. The vines were monitored carefully during ripening and hand harvested at optimum flavour maturity and physiological ripeness.

WINEMAKING:
The fruit was carefully hand-picked and lightly whole bunch pressed. The must was barrel fermented in American oak (50% new, 25% second fill, 25% third fill), using selected yeast strains. The wine went through malolactic conversion in barrel, followed by maturation its lees for 10 months with regular stirring. Only the best barrels from each batch were selected to use in the final blend of the Omaka Reserve Chardonnay.

TASTING NOTE:
An elegant and silky wine of great concentration and finesse. Full bodied and generous with layers of ripe charred stone fruits combined with a touch of vanilla. Rich and textured with a smoky oak character on the lingering finish.

GRAPE:
Chardonnay 100%.

COUNTRY:
New Zealand

REGION:
Marlborough

SUB-REGION:
Marlborough