Description

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
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”.

THE VINTAGE:
2022 saw a typical very warm October, November and December, which allowed for a good solid fruit set. However, an unusually very wet and cold February created a disease risk which was a real potential threat to the success of harvest. Fortunately, a very dry period from 20th February until the 20th March was exactly what was required. Outstanding autumn conditions with warm days and cool nights, enabled the grapes to remain healthy and ripen to the desired levels.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
Proximity to the ocean sees stronger maritime influences on the vineyards in the lower Wairau Valley where fruit for the Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is grown. The daytime temperatures are warm, facilitating ripening, while the night temperatures are typically cooler than the central and upper parts of the Wairau Valley. This promotes an increased hang time and flavour concentration. Nutrient rich soils deposited over time due to non-erosive flooding (prior to stop bank flood protection being introduced) have formed even and fertile sites. The alluvial silt soils are also freedraining. The nutrient-hungry Sauvignon Blanc vines utilise this fertility to produce extremely concentrated flavours and aromas.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
The fruit was pressed immediately to minimise skin contact and to preserve the quality of the juice. After settling, the juice was fermented in stainless steel using a selected yeast strain. Fermentation was carried out at cool temperatures to retain varietal characters and freshness. This parcel was identified by the winemaking team during comprehensive blind tastings as the very best batch of wine produced for the 2022 vintage and therefore bottled as the Saint Clair Wairau Reserve.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
An intensely fragrant wine, where aromas of tropical blackcurrant bud and passionfruit are complemented by delicate notes of green nettle. Rich and beautifully balanced on the palate with vibrant flavours of passionfruit and melon and an underlying mineral note leading to a long saline finish.

GRAPE:
Sauvignon Blanc 100%.