Spy Valley - Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2022
Price: $22.99
Producer | Spy Valley |
Country | New Zealand |
Region | Marlborough |
Varietal | Sauvignon Blanc |
Vintage | 2022 |
Sku | 07044 |
Size | 750ml |
The 1990s were a time of discovery and courage in Marlborough. Deep in the Waihopai Valley, Bryan and Jan Johnson had the audacity to establish 320 acres of estate vineyards on land considered too hard, too dry and too unfertile for wine. This pioneering spirit established one of New Zealand’s most successful boutique family-run wineries. Today, Spy Valley’s commitment remains to the land and to the people who tend it – the Johnson family are simply farmers at heart, nurturing soil and vine to cultivate the complexities in our wine. Spy Valley was one of the first producers in Marlborough to be accredited under New Zealand’s Sustainable Winegrowing scheme. Yeah, that all sounds pretty fancy right, but what does it mean? The recent restoration of the native wetlands on their estate, and the planting of over 700 native trees, all adding to biodiversity. Only organic matter and compost is used to replace nutrients in the soils, and water management is carefully controlled on the estate, with most vineyards now irrigation free (dry framed). Solar power now provides the energy for much of the estate, and for grass mowing they use sheep – luckily New Zealand has plenty of those! Sustainability - good for the earth, great for the wine!
Spy Valley’s Sauvignon Blanc comes from three locations in Marlborough, the Waihopai Valley (the home estate), and select small sustainable growers in the Mid Wairau and Lower Wairau Valleys as well. All of the grapes are picked at night to preserve the freshness and acidity in each cluster. At the winery the fruit is cold soaked and the fermented in predominantly stainless steel tanks. Just a little (about 8%) of the fruit is fermented in oak on the lees, adding extra texture and nuance to the naturally crisp fruit. So there’s all the grapefruit and hints of grass you’ve come to expect from great NZ Sauv Blanc here, but so much more as well, that’s what sets this wine apart from the rest for me. Passionfruit, blackcurrant, cumin spice, and wet stone intermix wonderfully on the nose, drawing you in. Straight away you realise there’s a little something extra about this Sauv Blanc. The palate is ripe and rich with lots more tropical fruits and citrus popping. The finish is long, crisp and totally mouthwatering, keeping you coming back for more. Pairings? How about your back porch on a 90 degree day? We have a few of those coming! For food, fire cracker shrimp, a fresh goat cheese salad, calamari. Keep it fresh, keep it coming!
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